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SE  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


THE 


INNER  LIFE 

. OF 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

9 

SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

BY 

F.  B.  CARPENTER. 

L • 

TWENTY-FO  UR  TH  THO  USAND. 


<33/ \<t 


NEW  YORK: 

PUBLISHED  BY  HURD  AND  HOUGHTOE, 


459  Broome  Street. 

1868. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1867-  by 
Hurd  and  Houghton, 

in  the  Clerk’s  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Southern  District  of 
New  Yorz. 


riverside,  Cambridge: 

STEREOTYPED  AND  PRINTED  DS 


H 0.  HOUGHTON  AND  COMPANY. 


? 2/3  , 17  h 
h 7 3 6 t & 


PREFACE. 


In  offering  this  volume  to  the  public  I shall  at- 
tempt no  apology  for  its  shortcomings,  other  than  to 


say  that  its  production  is  the  result  of  the  unex- 


pected popularity  of  the  series  of  articles,  relating 
to  the  illustrious  subject  of  whom  it  mainly  treats, 
which  were  commenced  in  the  New  York  “ Inde- 
pendent ” soon  after  the  assassination. 

Written  in  a spirit  of  enthusiasm  and  affection, 
which  there  has  been  no  effort  to  disguise,  the  book 
is,  nevertheless,  a simple  matter-of-fact  record  of 
daily  experience  and  observation,  fragmentary,  but 
true,  in  all  essential  particulars.  There  has  been 
no  disposition  to  select  from,  embellish,  or  sup- 
press, any  portion  of  the  material  in  my  possession. 
The  incidents  given  were  not  in  any  sense  isolated 
exceptions  to  the  daily  routine  of  Mr.  Lincoln’s 
life.  My  aim  has  been  throughout  these  pages  to 
portray  the  man  as  he  was  revealed  to  me,  without 
any  attempt  at  idealization. 


VI 


PREFACE. 


In  addition  to  my  own  reminiscences,  I have 
woven  into  the  book  various  personal  incidents, 
published  and  unpublished,  which  bear  intrinsic  evi- 
dence of  genuineness, — attaching  in  these  instances, 
where  it  seemed  necessary  and  proper,  the  sources 
of  such  contributions. 

I am  not  one  of  those  inclined  to  believe  that 
Mr.  Lincoln,  in  the  closing  months  of  his  career, 
reached  the  full  measure  of  his  greatness.  Man 
may  not  read  the  future  : but  it  is  my  firm  convic- 
tion, that,  had  he  lived  through  his  second  term,  lie 
would  have  continued  to  grow,  as  he  had  grown,  in 
the  estimation  and  confidence  of  his  countrymen  ; 
rising  to  a grander  moral  height  with  every  emer- 
gency, careful  always  to  weigh  every  argument  op- 
posed to  his  convictions,  but,  once  mounted  upon 
those  convictions,  grounded  in  righteousness,  as  im- 
movable as  one  of  the  giant  ranges  of  our  own 
Rocky  Mountains  ! 

Aspiring  in  no  sense  to  the  dignity  of  a biography, 
this  volume  will  fulfil  its  object  if  it  helps  to  any 
better  knowledge  of  one,  who,  apart  from  the  rev- 
erence with  which  he  ever  will  be  regarded  for  his 
connection  with  the  cause  of  human  Freedom,  was 
the  best  product  and  exemplar  which  the  world 
has  yet  seen  of  American  soil  and  institutions  ; the 


PREFACE. 


Vll 


study  of  whose  character,  illustrating  as  it  did  the 
highest  form  of  statesmanship,  founded  upon  truth, 
justice,  and  solid  integrity,  combining  the  deepest 
wisdom  with  a child-like  freshness  and  simplicity, — 
will  be  of  perpetual  interest  and  value. 


F.B.  C. 


96  West  45 th  Street,  New  York. 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE 


I. 

I leave  to  other  and  abler  pens  the  proper  esti- 
mate of  Abraham  Lincoln  as  a ruler  and  states- 
man,— his  work  and  place  in  history.  Favored 
during  the  year  1864  with  several  months  of  per- 
sonal intercourse  with  him,  I shall,  attempt  in  these 
pages  to  write  the  story  of  that  association  ; not  for 
any  value  which  the  record  will  have  in  itself,  but 
for  the  glimpses  it  may  afford  of  the  person  and 
character  of  the  man,  — every  detail  of  whose  life 
is  now  invested  with  enduring  interest  for  the 
American  people. 


n. 

That  Art  should  aim  to  embody  and  express  the 
spirit  and  best  thought  of  its  own  age  seems  self- 
evident.  If  it  fails  to  do  this,  whatever  else  it  may 
accomplish,  it  falls  short  of  its  highest  object.  It 
cannot  dwell  always  among  classic  forms,  nor  clothe 
its  conceptions  in  the  imagery  of  an  old  and  worn- 
out  world.  It  must  move  on,  if  it  is  to  keep  pace 


10  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

with  that  “ increasing  purpose  which  through  the 
ages  runs,”  and  its  ideals  must  be  wrought  out  of 
the  strife  of  a living  humanity. 

It  has  been  well  said  by  a recent  writer : “ The 
record  of  the  human  family  to  the  advent  of  Christ, 
was  the  preparation  of  the  photographic  plate  for 
its  image.  All  subsequent  history  is  the  bringing 
out  of  the  divine  ideal  of  true  manhood.”  Slowly, 
but  surely,  through  the  centuries,  is  this  purpose 
being  accomplished.  Human  slavery  has  been  the 
material  type  or  expression  of  spiritual  bondage. 
On  the  lowest  or  physical  plane,  it  has  symbolized 
the  captivity  and  degradation  of  our  higher  nature ; 
with  the  breaking  in  of  new  light,  and  the  inspira- 
tion of  a deeper  life,  it  is  inevitably  doomed.  That 
man,  to  attain  the  full  development  of  the  faculties 
implanted  in  him,  must  be  in  spiritual  and  physical 
freedom,  is  a principle  which  lies  at  the  foundation 
of  all  government ; and  the  enfranchisement  of  a 
race  to-day  thus  becomes  the  assertion  and  promise 
of  a true  and  coming  Emancipation  for  all  men. 


III. 

When  Abraham  Lincoln,  called  from  the  hum- 

c . 

blest  rank  in  life  to  preside  over  the  nation  during 
the  most  momentous  period  of  jts  history,  uttered 
his  Proclamation  of  Freedom,  — shattering  forever 
the  chains  which  bound  four  millions  of  human 
beings  in  slavery ; an  act  unparalleled  for  mora. 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


11 


grandeur  in  the  history  of  mankind,  — it  was  evi- 
dent to  all  who  sought  beneath  the  surface  for  the 
cause  of  the  war  that  the  ci’isis  was  past,  — that 
so  surely  as  Heaven  is  on  the  side  of  Right  and 
Justice,  the  North  would  triumph  in  the  great 
struggle  which  had  assumed  the  form  of  a direct 
issue  between  Freedom  and  Slavery. 

In  common  with  many  others,  I had  from  the 
beginning  of  the  war  believed  that  the  government  j 
Would  not  be  successful  in  putting  down  a rebellion 
based  upon  slavery  as  its  avowed  corner-stone,  with- 
out striking  a death-blow  at  the  institution  itself. 
As  the  months  went  on,  and  disappointment  and 
disaster  succeeded  one  another,  this  conviction  deep- 
ened into  certainty.  When  at  length,  in  obedience 
to  what  seemed  the  very  voice  of  God,  the  thun-  >! 
derbolt  was  launched,  and,  like  the  first  gun  at  Con- 
cord, “ was  heard  around  the  world,”  all  the  enthu- 
siasm of  my  nature  was  kindled.  The  “ beast  ” 
Secession,  offspring  of  the  “ dragon  ” Slavery,  draw- 
ing in  his  train  a third  part  of  our  national  stars, 
was  pierced  with  the  deadly  wound  which  could  not 
be  healed.  It  was  the  combat  between  Michael  and 
Satan  of  Apocalyptic  vision,  reenacted  before  the 
eyes  of  the  nineteenth  century. 


IV. 


To  paint  a picture  which  should  commemorate 
this  new  epoch  in  the  history  of  Liberty,  was  a 


12 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


/ 


dream  which  took  form  and  shape  in  my  mind  to* 
wards  the  close  of  the  year  1863,  — the  year  made 
memorable  in  its  dawn  by  the  issue  of  the  final  de- 
cree. With  little  experience  to  adapt  me  for  the 
execution  of  such  a work,  there  had  nevertheless 
come  to  me  at  times  glowing  conceptions  of  the  true 
purpose  and  character  of  Art,  and  an  intense  desire 
to  do  something  expressive  of  appreciation  of  the 
great  issues  involved  in  the  wax’.  The  painters 
of  old  had  delighted  in  representations  of  the  birth 
from  the  ocean  of  Arenus,  the  goddess  of  love. 
Ninety  years  ago  upon  this  Western  continent  had 
been  witnessed  — no  dream  of  fable,  but  a substan- 
tial fact  — the  immaculate  conception  of  Constitu- 
tional Liberty  ; and  at  length  through  gi*eat  ti’avail 
its  consummation  had  been  reached.  The  long- 
prayed-for  year  of  jubilee  had  come  ; the  bonds  of 
the  oppressed  were  loosed  ; the  prison  doors  were 
opened.  “Behold,”  said  a voice,  “how  a Man 
may  be  exalted  to  a dignity  and  glory  almost  divine, 
and  give  freedom  to  a race.  Surely  Art  should 
unite  with  Eloquence  and  Poetry  to  celebi’ate  such 
a theme.” 

I conceived  of  that  band  of  men,  upon  whom 
the  eyes  of  the  world  centred  as  never  before  upon 
ministers  of  state,  gathered  in  council,  depressed, 
perhaps  disheartened  at  the  vain  efforts  of  many 
months  to  restore  the  supremacy  of  the  govern- 
ment.  I saw,  in  thought,  the  head  of  the  nation, 
bowed  down  with  his  weight  of  care  and  l’esponsi- 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


13 


bility,  solemnly  announcing,  as  he  unfolded  the  pre- 
pared draft  of  the  Proclamation,  that  the  time  for 
the  inauguration  of  this  policy  had  arrived  ; I en- 
deavored to  imagine  the  conflicting  emotions  of 
satisfaction,  doubt,  and*  distrust  with  which  such  an 
announcement  would  be  received  by  men  of  the 
varied  characteristics  of  the  assembled  councillors. 

For  several  weeks  the  design  of  the  picture  was 
slowly  maturing,  during  which  time,  however,  no 
line  was  drawn  upon  paper  or  canvas.  Late  one 
evening,  absorbed  in  thought  upon  the  subject,  I 
took  up  an  unframed  photograph  lying  carelessly  in 
my  room,  and  upon  the  blank  side  of  this,  roughly 
and  hastily  sketched,  was  embodied  the  central  idea 
of  the  composition  as  it  had  shaped  itself  in  my 
mind. 

- To  one  disposed  to  look  for  coincidences  in  daily 
life,  and  regard  its  events  as  no  mere  succession  of 
accidents,  there  must  often  come  those  which  wear 
a deep  significance.  In  seeking  a point  of  unity 
or  action  for  the  picture,  I was  impressed  with  the 
conviction  that  important  modifications  followed  the 
reading  of  the  Proclamation  at  the  suggestion  of 
the  Secretary  of  State,  and  I determined  upon  such 
an  incident  as  the  moment  of  time  to  be  repre- 
sented. I was  subsequently  surprised  and  gratified 
when  Mr.  Lincoln  himself,  reciting  the  history  of 
the  Proclamation  to  me,  dwelt  particularly  upon  ' 
the  fact  that  not  only  was  the  time  of  its  issue  de- 
cided by  Secretary  Seward’s  advice,  but  that  one 


14 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


of  the  most  important  words  in  the  document  was 
added  through  his  strenuous  representations. 

The  central  thought  of  the  picture  once  decided 
upon  and  embodied,  the  rest  naturally  followed ; 
one  after  another  the  seven  figures  surrounding  the 
President  dropped  into  their  places.  Those  sup- 
posed to  have  held  the  purpose  of  the  Proclamation 
as  their  long  conviction,  were  placed  prominently  in 
the  foreground  in  attitudes  which  indicated  their 
support  of  the  measure  ; the  others  were  represented 
in  varying  moods  of  discussion  or  silent  deliberation. 

A few  evenings  after  the  completion  of  the  de- 
sign I went  to  see  a friend  who  I knew  was  inti- 
mate with  the  Hon.  Schuyler  Colfax  and  Hon. 
Owen  Lovejoy,  through  whom  I hoped  to  obtain 
Mr.  Lincoln’s  assent  to'' my  plan.  I revealed  to 
him  my  purpose,  and  asked  his  assistance  in  carry- 
ing; it  into  effect.  During  the  following  week  he 
went  to  Washington,  and  in  company  with  Mr. 
Colfax  called  upon  the  President,  and  laid  before 
him  my  project.  He  kindly  listened  to  the  details, 
and  then  said  : “ In  short,  if  I understand  you, 
you  wish  me  to  consent  to  sit  to  this  artist  for  tho 
picture  ? ” My  friends  acknowledged  this  to  be  the 
object  of  their  errand.  Mr.  Lincoln  at  once,  with 
his  accustomed  kindness,  promised  his  cooperation. 

The  last  day  of  the  year  the  Hon.  Mr.  Lovejoy, 
‘whom  I had  never  met,  but  who  had  become  warmly 
interested  in  the  execution  of  the  work,  being  in 
New  York,  called  at  my  studio  with  the  wife  of  my 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


15 


friend,  who  had  been  my  earnest  advocate.  At  the 
close  of  the  interview  he  remarked,  in  his  quaint 
way,  taking  me  by  the  hand,  “ In  the  words  of 
Scripture,  my  good  friend,  I can  say  now  I believe, 
not  on  account  of  the  saying  of  the  woman,  but 
because  I have  seen  for  myself.” 


V. 

Impracticable  as  my  scheme  had  at  first  seemed, 
the  way  was  thus  opened  for  its  execution.  When 
fairly  committed  to  the  purpose,  however,  the  want 
of  means  and  the  magnitude  of  the  undertaking  al- 
most disheartened  me.  My  original  plan  embraced 
a canvas  sufficiently  large  for  a life-size  group  of 
the  President  and  entire  Cabinet ; to  paint  such 
a picture  would  consume  many  months,  perhaps 
years.  Enthusiasm  alone  would  never  accomplish 
the  work.  The  few  friends  to  whom  I should  have 
felt  at  liberty  to  apply  for  help  were  not  wealthy. 
Who  outside  of  these  could  be  persuaded  that  a 
work  of  the  character  and  proportions  contemplated, 
undertaken  by  an  artist  of  no  experience  in  his- 
torical studies,  would  not  end  in  utter  failure  ? 

I had  left  my  home  at  the  usual  hour  one  morn- 
ing, pondering  the  difficulty  which,  like  Bunyan’s 
lions,  seemed  now  to  block  the  way.  As  one  alter- 
native after  another  presented  itself  to  my  mind  and 
was  rejected,  the  prospect  appeared  less  and  less 
hopeful.  I at  length  found  myself  in  Broadway  at 


16 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


the  foot  of  the  stairs  leading  up  to  my  studio.  A 
gentleman  at  this  moment  attracted  my  attention, 
standing  with  his  back  towards  me,  looking  at  some 
pictures  exposed  in  the  window  of  the  shop  below. 
Detecting,  as  I thought,  something  familiar  in  his 
air  and  manner,  I waited  until  he  turned  his  face, 
and  then  found  I was  not  mistaken  ; it  was  an  old 
acquaintance  who  five  years  before  lived  near  me  in 
Brooklyn,  engaged  in  a similar  struggle  for  a liveli- 
hood with  myself,  though  his  profession  was  law 
instead  of  art. 

We  had  both  changed  our  residences  and  had  not 
met  for  years.  After  a cordial  greeting,  he  ac- 
cepted my  invitation  to  ascend  to  the  studio.  I had 
heard  that  he  had  been  successful  in  some  business 
ventures,  but  the  matter  made  but  little  impression 
upon  me,  and  had  been  forgotten.  Suddenly  there 
seemed  to  come  into  my  mind  the  words : “ This 
man  has  been  sent  to  you.”  Full  of  the  singular 
impression,  I laid  before  him  my  conception.  He 
heard  me  through,  and  then  asked  if  I was  sure 
of  Prssident  Lincoln’s  consent  and  cooperation.  I 
informed  him  of  the  pledge  which  had  been  given 
me.  “ Then,”  said  he,  “ you  shall  paint  the  pict- 
ure. Take  plenty  of  time,  — make  it  the  great 
work  of  your  life, — and  draw  upon  me  for  what- 
ever funds  you  will  require  to  the  end.”  * 

* To  Mr.  Samuel,  Sinclair,  of  the  New  York  Tribune,  for  the  intro- 
duction to  Mr.  Lincoln,  and  to  Frederick  A.  Lane,  Esq.,  of  New 
Fork,  for  the  generous  aid  thus  extended,  I shall  ever  he  indebted  for 
the  accomplishment  of  my  work. 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


17 


YI. 

On  the  evening  of  February  4th,  1864,  I went 
to  Washington.  Shortly  after  noon  of  the  follow- 
ing day,  I rang  the  bell  at  Mr.  Lovejoy’s  residence 
on  Fifteenth  Street.  To  my  sorrow,  I found  him 
very  ill;  but  it  was  hoped  by  his  friends  that  he 
was  then  improving.  Though  very  feeble,  he  in- 
sisted upon  seeing  me,  and  calling  for  writing  mate- 
rials, sat  up  in  bed  to  indite  a note  introducing 
me  to  the  President.  This,  handed  to  me  open,  I 
'read.  One  expression  I have  not  forgotten,  it  wras 
so  like  Mr.  Lincoln  himself,  as  I afterward  came 
to  know  him.  “ I am  gaining  very  slowly.  — It  is 
hard  work  drawing  the  sled  up-hill.”  And  this 
suggests  the  similarity  there  was  between  these 
men.  Lovejoy  had  much  more  of  the  agitator,  the 
reformer,  in  his  nature,  but  both  drew  the  inspira- 
tion of  their  lives  from  the  same  source,  and  it 
was  founded  in  sterling  honesty.  Their  modes  of 
thought  and  illustration  were  remarkably  alike. 
It  is  not  strange  that  they  should  have  been  bosom 
friends.  The  President  called  repeatedly  to  see  him 
during  his  illness ; and  it  was  on  one  of  these  occa- 
sions that  he  said  to  him,  “ This  war  is  eating  my 
life  out ; I have  a strong  impression  that  I shall 
not  live  to  see  the  end.”  Mr.  Lovejoy’s  health 
subsequently  improved,  and  for  a change  he  went 
to  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  where,  it  will  be  remembered. 


18 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


he  had  a relapse,  and  died,  universally  mourned  as 
one  of  the  truest  and  most  faithful  of  our  states- 
men.  Mr.  Lincoln  did  not  hear  from  him  directly 
after  he  left  Washington.  Through  a friend  I 
learned  by  letter  that  he  was  lying  at  the  point  of 
death.  This  intelligence  I communicated  to  the 
President  the  same  evening,  in  the  vestibule  of  the 
White  House,  — meeting  him  on  his  way  to  the 
War  Department.  He  was  deeply  affected  by  it. 
His  only  words  were,  “Lovejoy  was  the  best  friend 
I had  in  Congress.” 

To  return  from  this  pardonable  digression,  — I 
took  the  note  of  introduction  at  once  to  the  White* 
House ; but  no  opportunity  was  afforded  me  of 
presenting  it  during  the  day.  The  following  morn- 
ing passed  with  the  same  result,  and  I then  resolved 
to  avail  myself  of  Mrs.  Lincoln’s  Saturday  after- 
noon reception — at  which,  I was  told,  the  President 
would  be  present  — to  make  myself  known  to  him. 
Two  o’clock  found  me  one  of  the  throng  pressing 
toward  the  centre  of  attraction,  the  “blue”  room. 
From  the  threshold  of  the  “ crimson  ” parlor  as 
I passed,  I had  a glimpse  of  the  gaunt  figure 
of  Mr.  Lincoln  in  the  distance,  haggard  - looking, 
dressed  in  black,  relieved  only  by  the  prescribed 
white  gloves  ; standing,  it  seemed  to  me,  solitary 
and  alone,  though  surrounded  by  the  crowd,  bend- 
ing low  now  and  then  in  the  process  of  hand- 
shaking, and  responding  half  abstractedly  to  the 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  19 

well-meant  greetings  of  the  miscellaneous  assem- 
blage.  Never  shall  I forget  the  electric  thrill  which 
went  through  my  whole  being  at  this  instant.  I 
seemed  to  see  lines  radiating  from  every  part  of 
the  globe,  converging  to  a focus  at  the  point  where 
that  plain,  awkward-looking  man  stood,  and  to  hear 
in  spirit  a million  prayers,  “ as  the  sound  of  many 
waters,”  ascending  in  his  behalf.  Mingled  with 
supplication  I could  discern  a clear  symphony  of 
triumph  and  blessing,  swelling  with  an  ever-increas- 
ing volume.  It  was  the  voice  of  those  who  had 
been  bondmen  and  bondwomen,  and  the  grand 
• diapason  swept  up  from  the  coming  ages. 

It  was  soon  my  privilege,  in  the  regular  succes- 
sion, to  take  that  honored  hand.  Accompanying 
the  act,  my  name  and  profession  were  announced 
to  him  in  a low  tone  by  one  of  the  assistant  private 
secretaries,  who  stood  by  his  side.  Retaining  my 
hand,  he  looked  at  me  inquiringly  for  an  instant, 
and  said,  “ Oh  yes  ; I know  ; this  is  the  painter.” 
Then  sti-aightening  himself  to  his  full  height,  with 
a twinkle  of  the  eye,  he  added,  playfully,  “ Do 
you  think,  Mr.  C , that  you  can  make  a hand- 

some picture  of  me  ? ” emphasizing  strongly  the 
last  word.  Somewhat  confused  at  this  point-blank 
shot,  uttered  in  a tone  so  loud  as  to  attract  the 
attention  of  those  in  immediate  proximity,  I made 
a random  reply,  and  took  the  occasion  to  ask 
if  I could  see  him  in  his  study  at  the  close  of 


20  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

the  reception.  To  this  he  responded  in  the 
peculiar  vernacular  of  the  West,  “ I reckon,” 
resuming  meanwhile  the  mechanical  and  tradi- 
tional exercise  of  the  hand  which  no  President 
has  ever  yet  been  able  to  avoid,  and  which,  se- 
vere as  is  the  ordeal,  is  likely  to  attach  to 
the  position,  so  long  as  the  Republic  endures. 

VII. 

The  appointed  hour  found  me  at  the  well-remem- 
bered door  of  the  official  chamber,  — that  door 
watched  daily,  with  so  many  conflicting  emotions* 
of  hope  and  fear,  by  the  anxious  throng  regularly 
gathered  there.  The  President  had  preceded  me, 
and  was  already  deep  in  Acts  of  Congress,  with 
which  the  writing-desk  was  strewed,  awaiting  his 
signature.  He  received  me  pleasantly,  giving  me 
a seat  near  his  own  arm-chair ; and  after  having 
read  Mr.  Lovejoy’s  note,  he  took  off  his  spectacles, 
and  said,  “Well,  Mr.  C— — , we  will  turn  you 
in  loose  here,  and  try  to  give  you  a good  chance  tQ. 
work  out  your  idea.”  Then,  without  paying  much 
attention  to  the  enthusiastic  expression  of  my  am- 
bitious desire  and  purpose,  he  proceeded  to  give  me 
a detailed  account  of  the  history  and  issue  of  the 
great  proclamation. 

“ It  had  got  to  be,”  said  he,  “ midsummer,  1862. 
Things  had  gone  on  from  bad  to  worse,  until  I felt 
that  we  had  reached  the  end  of  our  rope  on  the 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


21 


plan  of  operations  we  had  been  pursuing ; tnat  we 
had  about  played  our  last  card,  and  must  change 
our  tactics,  or  lose  the  game  ! I now  determined 
upon  the  adoption  of  the  emancipation  policy ; and, 
without  consultation  with,  or  the  knowledge  of  the 
Cabinet,  I prepared  the  original  draft  of  the  proc- 
lamation, and,  after  much  anxious  thought,  called 
a Cabinet  meeting  upon  the  subject.  This  was  the 
last  of  July,  or  the  first  part  of  the  month  of  August, 
1862.”  (The  exact  date  he  did  not  remember.) 
“ This  Cabinet  meeting  took  place,  I think,  upon  a 
Saturday.  All  were  present,  excepting  Mr.  Blair, 
•the  Postmaster-General,  who  was  absent  at  the 
opening  of  the  discussion,  but  came  in  subse- 
quently. I said  to  the  Cabinet  that  I had  resolved 
upon  this  step,  and  had  not  called  them  together  to 
ask  their  advice,  but  to  lay  the  subject-matter  of  a 
proclamation  before  them ; suggestions  as  to  which 
would  be  in  order,  after  they  had  heard  it  read. 
Mr.  Lovejoy,”  said  he,  “ was  in  error  when  he  in- 
formed you  that  it  excited  no  comment,  excepting 
on  the  part  of  Secretary  Seward.  Various  sug-’ 
gestions  were  offered.  Secretary  Chase  wished  the 
language  stronger  in  reference  to  the  arming  of  the 
blacks.  Mr.  Blair,  after  he  came  in,  deprecated  the 
policy,  on  the  ground  that  it  would  cost  the  Admin- 
istration the  fall  elections.  Nothing,  however,  was 
offered  that  I had  not  already  fully  anticipated  and 
settled  in  my  own  mind,  until  Secretary  Seward 
spoke.  He  said  in  substance : ‘ Mr.  President,  I 


22  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


approve  of  the  proclamation,  but  I question  the  ex- 
pediency of  its  issue  at  this  juncture.  The  depres- 
sion of  the  public  mind,  consequent  upon  our 
repeated  reverses,  is  so  great  that  I fear  the  effect 
of  so  important  a step.  It  may  be  viewed  as  the 
last  measure  of  an  exhausted  government,  a cry 
for  help  ; the  government  stretching  forth  its  hands 
to  Ethiopia,  instead  of  Ethiopia  stretching  forth  her 
hands  to  the  government.’  His  idea,”  said  the 
President,  “ was  that  it  would  be  considered  our  last 
shriek , on  the  retreat.”  (This  was  his  precise  ex- 
pression.) “ ‘ Now,’  continued  Mr.  Seward,  ‘ while 
I approve  the  measure,  I suggest,  sir,  that  you  post- 
pone its  issue,  until  you  can  give  it  to  the  country 
supported  by  military  success,  instead  of  issuing 
it,  as  would  be  the  case  now,  upon  the  greatest 
disasters  of  the  war  ! ’ ” Mr.  Lincoln  continued : 
“ The  wisdom  of  the  view  of  the  Secretary  of  State 
struck  me  with  very  great  force.  It  was  an  aspect 
of  the  case  that,  in  all  my  thought  upon  the  subject, 
I had  entirely  overlooked.  The  result  was  that  I 
put  the  draft  of  the  proclamation  aside,  as  you  do 
your  sketch  for  a picture,  waiting  for  a victory. 
From  time  to  time  I added  or  changed  a line, 
touching  it  up  here  and  there,  anxiously  watching 
the  progress  of  events.  Well,  the  next  news  we 
had  was  of  Pope’s  disaster,  at  Bull  Run.  Things 
looked  darker  than  ever.  Finally,  came  the  week 
of  the  battle  of  Antietam.  I determined  to  wait  no 
longer.  The  news  came,  I think,  on  Wednesday, 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


23 


tnat  the  advantage  was  on  our  side.  I was  then 
staying  at  the  Soldiers’  Home,  (three  miles  out 
of  Washington.)  Here  I finished  writing  the  sec- 
ond draft  of  the  preliminary  proclamation  ; came  up 
on  Saturday ; called  the  Cabinet  together  to  hear 
it,  and  it  was  published  the  following  Monday.” 

At  the  final  meeting  of  September  20th,  another 
interesting  incident  occurred  in  connection  with 
Secretary  Seward.  The  President  had  written 
the  important  part  of  the  proclamation  in  these 
words  : — 

“ That,  on  the  first  day  of  January,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty- 
three,  all  persons  held  as  slaves  within  any  State 
or  designated  part  of  a State,  the  people  whereof 
shall  then  be  in  rebellion  against  the  United  States, 
shall  be  then,  thenceforward,  and  forever  free  ; 
and  the  Executive  Government  of  the  United 
States,  including  the  military  and  naval  authority 
thereof,  will  recognize  the  freedom  of  such  persons, 
and  will  do  no  act  or  acts  to  repress  such  persons, 
or  any  of  them,  in  any  efforts  they  may  make  for 
their  actual  freedom.”  “ When  I finished  read- 
ing this  paragraph,”  resumed  Mr.  Lincoln,  “ Mr. 
Seward  stopped  me,  and  said,  ‘ I think,  Mr.  Pres- 
ident, that  you  should  insert  after  the  word  “ recog- 
nize,'’ in  that  sentence,  the  words  “ and  maintain.'1'  ’ 
I replied  that  I had  already  fully  considered  the 
import  of  that  expression  in  this  connection,  but  I 
had  not  introduced  it,  because  it  was  not  my  way 


24 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


to  promise  what  I was  not  entirely  sure  that  ] 
could  perform,  and  I was  not  prepared  to  say  that 
I thought  we  were  exactly  able  to  ‘ maintain  ’ this.” 

“ But,”  said  he,  “ Seward  insisted  that  we  ought 
to  take  this  ground ; and  the  words  finally  went 
in  ! ” 

“ It  is  a somewhat  remarkable  fact,”  he  subse- 
quently remarked,  “ that  there  were  just  one  hun- 
dred days  between  the  dates  of  the  two  proclama- 
tions issued  upon  the  22d  of  September  and  the 
1st  of  January.  I had  not  made  the  calculation 
at  the  time.” 

Having  concluded  this  interesting  statement,  the 
President  then  proceeded  to  show  me  the  various 
positions  occupied  by  himself  and  the  different 
members  of  the  Cabinet,  on  the  occasion  of  the  first 
meeting.  “ As  nearly  as  I remember,”  said  he,  “ I 
sat  near  the  head  of  the  table  ; the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury  and  the  Secretary  of  War  were  here,  at 
my  right  hand  ; the  others  were  grouped  at  the 
left.” 

At  this  point,  I exhibited  to  him  a pencil  sketch 
of  the  composition  as  I had  conceived  it,  with  no 
knowledge  of  the  facts  or  details.  The  leading 
idea  of  this  I found,  as  I have  stated  on  a previous 
page,  to  be  entirely  consistent  with  the  account  I 
had  just  heard.  I saw,  however,  that  I should 
have  to  reverse  the  picture,  placing  the  President 
at  the  other  end  of  the  table,  to  make  it  accord 
with  his  description.  I had  resolved  to  discard  all 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


25 


appliances  and  tricks  of  picture-making,  and  en- 
deavor, as  'faithfully  as  possible,  to  represent  the 
scene  as  it  actually  transpired  ; room,  furniture, 
accessories,  all  were  to  be  painted  from  the  actual- 
ities. It  was  a scene  second  only  in  historical  im- 
portance and  interest  to  that  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence ; and  I felt  assured,  that,  if  hon- 
estly and  earnestly  painted,  it  need  borrow  no  in- 
terest from  imaginary  curtain  or  column,  gorgeous 
furniture  or  allegorical  statue.  Assenting  heartily 
to  what  is  called  the  “ realistic  ” school  of  art, 
when  applied  to  the  illustration  of  historic  events, 
I felt  in  this  case,  that  I had  no  more  right  to  de- 
part from  the  facts,  than  has  the  historian  in  his 
record. 

When  friends  said  to  me,  as  they  frequently  did, 
“ Your  picture  will  be  bald  and  barren,”  my  re- 
ply was,  “ If  I cannot  make  the  portraiture  of  the 
scene  itself  sufficiently  attractive  without  the  false 
glitter  of  tapestry  hangings,  velvet  table-cloths,  and 
marble  columns,  then  I shall  at  least  have  the  satis- 
faction of  having  failed  in  the  cause  of  truth.”  I 
reasoned  in  this  way:  The  most  important  docu- 
ment submitted  to  a cabinet  during  our  exist  nice- 
as  a nation  is  under  discussion.  A spectator  per- 
mitted to  look  in  upon  that  scene  would  give  little 
thought  and  small  heed  to  the  mere  accessories  and 
adjuncts  of  the  occasion . His  mind  would  centre 
upon  the  immortal  document,  — its  anxious  author, 
conscious  of  his  solemn  responsibility,  announcing 


26 


SIX  JIOXTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


his  matured  and  inflexible  purpose  to  his  assem- 
bled councillors.  He  would  listen  with  mpar- 
alleled  eagerness  to  the  momentous  sentences 
uttered  for  the  first  time  in  the  ears  of  men,  and 
to  the  discussion  upon  them,  impatient  of  mere 
formalities  and  technicalities.  Should  a thought  he 
sprung  of  important  bearing,  or  an  overlooked  con- 
tingency be  brought  forward,  how  intently  would 
its  effect  be  watched.  What  varying  emotions, 
consequent  upon  peculiarities  of  temperament  and 
character,  would  he  expressed  in  the  countenances 
of  the  different  individuals  composing  the  group. 
How  each  in  turn  would  he  scanned.  Above  all,  the 
issues  involved : — the  salvation  of  the  Republic  — 
the  freedom  of  a Race.  “ Surely,”  I said,  “ such  a 
scene  may  be  painted,  and  abiding  if  not  absorbing 
interest  secured,  without  the  aid  of  conventional 
trappings.  The  republican  simplicity  of  the  room 
and  furniture,  with  its  thronging  associations,  will 
more  than  counterbalance  the  lack  of  splendor,  and 
the  artistic  mania  for  effect.  I will  depend  solely 
for  my  success  upon  the  interest  of  the  subject, 
and  its  truthfulness  of  representation.”  And  this 
purpose  I carried  with  me  to  the  end. 

VIII. 

The  first  sketch  of  the  composition,  as  it  was 
afterward  placed  upon  the  canvas,  was  matured,  1 
believe,  the  6ame  afternoon,  or  the  following  Mon- 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  *HOUSE.  27 


day  after  the  interview  recorded  above,  upon  the 
back  of  a visiting  card  ; my  pockets  affording  evi- 
dence of  the  employment  of  all  loose  material  at 
hand  in  leisure  moments,  in  the  study  of  the 
work.  The  final  arrangement  of  the  figures  was 
the  result  of  much  thought  and  many  combina- 
tions, though  the  original  conception  as  to  the 
jnoment  of  time  and  incident  of  action  was  pre- 
served throughout.  The  general  arrangement  of 
the  group,  as  described  by  the  President,  was  for- 
tunately entirely  consistent  with  my  purpose,  which 
was  to  give  that  prominence  to  the  different  indi- 
vidual which  belonged  to  them  respectively  in  the 
Administration.  There  was  a curious  mingling  of 
fact  and  allegory  in  my  mind,  as  I assigned  to  each 
his  place  on  the  canvas.  There  were  two  elements 
in  the  Cabinet,  the  radical  and  the  conservative. 
Mr.  Lincoln  was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  offi- 
cial table,  between  two  groups,  nearest  that  repre- 
senting the  radical,  but  the  uniting  point  of  both. 
The  chief  powers  of  a government  are  War  and 
Finance  : the  ministers  of  these  were  at  his  right, 
— the  Secretary  of  War,  symbolizing  the  great 
struggle,  in  the  immediate  foreground  ; the  Sec- 
retary of  the  Treasury,  actively  supporting  the 
new  policy,  standing  by  the  President’s  side.  The 
Army  being  the  right  hand,  the  Navy  may  very 
properly  be  styled  the  left  hand  of  the  govern- 
ment. The  place  for  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy 
leemed,  therefore,  very  naturally  to  be  on  Mr.  Lin- 


28 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


coin’s  left,  at  the  rear  of  the  table.  To  the  Secretary 
of  State,  as  the  great  expounder  of  the  principles  of 
the  Republican  party,  the  profound  and  sagacious 
statesman,  would  the  attention  of  all  at  such  a time 
be  given.  Entitled  to  precedence  in  discussion  by 
his  position  in  the  Cabinet,  he  would  necessarily  form 
one  of  the  central  figures  of  the  group.  The  four 
chief  officers  of  the  government  were  thus  brought,^ 
in  accordance  with  their  relations  to  the  Admin- 
istration, nearest  the  person  of  the  President,  who, 
with  the  manuscript  proclamation  in  hand,  which 
he  had  just  read,  was  represented  leaning  forward, 
listening  to,  and  intently  considering  the  views  pre- 
sented by  the  Secretary  of  State.  The  Attorney- 
General,  absorbed  in  the  constitutional  questions 
involved,  with  folded  arms,  was  placed  at  the  foot 
of  the  table  opposite  the  President.  The  Secre- 
tary of  the  Interior  and  the  Postmaster-General, 
■occupying  the  less  conspicuous  positions  of  the 
Cabinet,  seemed  to  take  their  proper  places  in  the 
background  of  the  picture. 

When,  at  length,  the  conception  as  thus  de- 
scribed was  sketched  upon  the  large  canvas,  and 
Mr.  Lincoln  came  in  to  see  it,  his  gratifying  re- 
mark, often  subsequently  repeated,  was,  “ It  is  as 
good  as  it  can  be  made.” 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THK  WHITE  HOUSE.  29 


IX. 

I have  thus  revealed,  step  by  step,  th~  mental 
process  by  which  the  picture  of  which  I write 
came  into  being.  Whether  the  story  bears  any 
analogy  to  that  by  which  the  works  of  others  have 
been  produced,  or  the  composition  c informs  to 
established  rules  and  precedents  in  art  or  not,  is  to 
me  a matter  of  indifference.  I was  true  to  my 
intuitions,  and  endeavored  to  adhere  as  faithfully  as 
practicable  to  the  facts. 

It  is  not  my  purpose  to  follow  in  detail  the 
progress,  thenceforward,  of  the  work.  As  the 
thread  upon  which  are  strung  my  memories  of 
the  late  President,  allusions  to  it  will  be  unavoid- 
able throughout  these  pages  ; but  hereafter  I in- 
tend that  they  shall  be  subordinate  and  incidental 
to  matters  of  more  general  interest.  It  is  not  too 
much  to  say  that  the  enthusiasm  in  which  the  work 
was  conceived,  flagged  not  to  the  end.  The  days 
were  too  short  for  labor  upon  it.  Lighting  at 
nightfall  the  great  chandeljer  of  the  state  dining- ' 
room,  which  was  finally  assigned  me  for  a studio 
instead  of  the  library,  where  the  windows  were 
shaded  bv  the  portico,  the  morning  light  frequently 
broke  in  upon  me  still  standing  pencil  or  palette 
in  hand,  before  the  immense  canvas,  unable  to 
break  the  spell  which  bound  me  to  it. 


30  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


X. 

“We  will  turn  you  in  loose  here,”  proved* 
an  “ open  sesame  ” to  me  during  the  subsequent 
months  of  my  occupation  at  the  White  House. 
My  access  to  the  official  chamber  was  made  nearly 
as  free  as  that  of  the  private  secretaries,  unless 
SDceial  business  was  being  transacted.  Sometimes 
a stranger,  approaching  the  President  with  a low 
tone,  would  turn  an  inquiring  eye  toward  the 
place  where  I sat,  absorbed  frequently  in  a pencil 
sketch  of  some  object  in  the  room.  This  would  be 
met  by  the  hearty  tones  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  — I can 
hear  them  yet  ringing  in  my  ears-,  — “ Oh,  you 
need  not  mind  him  ; he  is.  but  a painter.”  There 
was  a satisfaction  to  me,  differing  from  that  of  any 
other  experience,  in  simply  sitting  with  him.  Ab- 
sorbed in  his  papers,  he  would  becofhe  unconscious 
of  my  presence,  while  I intently  studied  every  line 
and  shade  of  expression  in  that  furrowed  face.  In 
repose,  it  was  the  saddest  face  I ever  knew.  Thei’e 
were  days  when  I could. scarcely  look  into  it  with- 
out crying.  During  the  first  week  of  the  battles  of 
the  Wilderness  he  scarcely  slept  at  all,.  Passing 
^through  the  main  hall-  of  the  domestic  apartment 
on  one  of  these  days,  I met  him,  clad  in  a long 
morning  wrapper,  pacing  back  and  forth  a narrow 
passage  leading  to  one  of  the  windows,  his  hands 
behind  him,  great  black  rings  under  his  eyes,  his 
head  bent  forward  u\?on  his  breast,  — altogether 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  31 

such  a picture  of  the  effects  of  sorrow,  care,  and 
anxiety  as  w<5uld  have  melted  the  hearts  of  the 
worst  of  his  adversaries,  who  so  mistakenly  ap- 
plied to  him  the  epithets  of  tyrant  and  usurper. 
With  a sorrow  almost  divine,  he,  too,  could  luue 
said  of  the  rebellious  States,  “ How  often  would  i 
have  gathered  you  together,  even  -as  a hen  gat  1 1 - 
ereth  her  chickens  under  her  wings,  and  ye  ivoula 
not!"  Like  another  Jeremiah,  he  wept  over  the 
desolations  of  the  nation ; “ he  mourned  the  slain 
of  the  daughter  of  his  people.” 

Surely,  ruler  never  manifested  so  much  sympa- 
thy, and  tenderness,  and  charity.  How  like  the 
last  words  of  the  Divine  one  himself,  “ Father,  for- 
give them,  for  they  know  not  what  they  do,”  will 
the  closing  sentences  of  his  last  inaugural  address 
resound  in  solemn  cadence  through  the  coming 
centuries.  Truly  and  well  says  the  London  “ Spec- 
tator” of  that  address:  “We  cannot  read  it  with- 
out a renewed  conviction  that  it  is  the  noblest  polit- 
ical document  known  to  history,  and  should  have 
for  the  nation  and  the  statesmen  he  left  behind  \ 
him  something  of  a sacred  and  almost  prophetic 
character.  Surely,  none  was  ever  written  under  a 
stronger  sense  of  the  reality  of  God’s  government. 
And  certainly  none  written  in  a period  of  passion- 
ate conflict  ever  so  completely  -excluded  the  par- 
tiality of  victorious  faction,  and  breathed  so  pure 
a strain  of  mingled  justice  and  mercy.” 


82  six  months  at  the  white  house. 


XL 

The  following  Tuesday  I spent  with  Mr.  Lin- 
coln in  his  study.  The  morning  was  devoted  to 
the  Judge  - Advocate  - Qeneral,  who  had  a large 
number  of  court-martial  cases  to  submit  to  t lie 
President.  Never  had  I realized  what  it  was  to 
have  power,  as  on  this  occasion.  As  case  after 
case  was  presented  to  Mr..  Lincoln,  one  stroke  of 
his  pen  confirmed  or  commuted  the  sentence  of 
death.  In  several  instances  Judge  Holt  referred 
to  extenuating  circumstances,  — extreme  youth, 
previous  good  conduct,  or  recommendations  to 
mercy.  Every  excuse  of  this  kind,  having  a foun- 
dation in  fact,  was  instantly  seized  upon  by  the 
President,  who,  taking  the  document  containing  the 
sentence,  would  write  upon  the  hack  of  it  the 
lightest  penalty  consistent  with  any  degree  of  jus- 
tice. As  he  added  the  date  to  one  of  these  papers, 
he  remarked  casually,  varying  the  subject  of  con- 
versation, “ Does  your  mind,  Judge  Holt,  associate 
events  with  dates?  Every  time  this  morning  that 
I have  had  occasion  to  write  the  day  of  the  month, 
tlie  thought  has  come  up,  ‘ This  was  General  Har- 
rison’s birthday.’  ” One  of  the  cases  brought  for- 
ward at  this  time  I recollect  distinctly.  The  man’s 
name  was  Burroughs  ; he  had  been  a notorious  spy  ; 
convicted  and  sentenced  to  death,  a strong  effort 
had  been  made  in  his  behalf  by  powerful  friends. 
It  was  a?i  aggravated  case,  but  an  impression  had 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


33 


evidently  been  made  upon  the  President  by  the 
strength  and  pertinacity  of  the  appeal.  As  Judge 
Holt  opened  the  record,  he  stated  that  a short  time 
previous  Burroughs  had  attempted  to  escape  from 
confinement,  and  was  shot  dead  in  the  act  by  the 
sentinel  on  guard.  With  an  expression  of  relief, 
Mr.  Lincoln  rejoined,  “I  ought  to-be  obliged  to 
him  for  taking  his  fate  into  his  own  hands  ; he  has 
saved  me  a deal  of  trouble.” 

During  a brief  absence  of  the  President,  Judge 
Holt  told  me  that  the  atrocities  of  some  of  the 
criminals  condemned,  surpassed  belief.  “ A gue- 
rilla leader  in  Missouri,”  said  he,  “ by  the  name 
of  Nichols,  was  in  the  habit  of  filling  the  ears  of 
wounded  Unionists  who  fell  into  his  hands  with 
gunpowder,  setting  fire  to  it,  and  blowing  their 
heads  to  pieces.  When  captured,  a number  of  hu- 
man ears  were  found  upon  his  person.”  Referring 
to  Mr.  Lincoln’s  disposition  to  pardon  or  commute 
the  majority  of  the  death  sentences,  he  remarked, 

“ The  President  is  without  exception  the  most  ten-  r 
der- hearted  man  I ever  knew.” 

Judge  Holt,  it  will  be  remembered,  was  called 
into  Mr.  Buchanan’s  cabinet  towards  the  close  of 
his  administration.  Glancing  around  the  room,  — 
incidentally  referring  to  my  errand  there,  — he 
said,  “ This  room  was  the  theatre  of  some  very 
exciting  scenes  during  the  last  months  of  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan’s term.”  He  spoke  warmly  of  the  cour- 
age and  fearlessness  of  Stanton,  on  those  occasions, 

3 


34  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE 


who  did  not  hesitate  to  call  traitors  and  treason 
their  right  names. 

When  the  clock  struck  twelve,  Mr.  Lincoln 
drew  back  from  the  table,  and  with  a stretch  of  his 
long  arms,  remarked,  “ I guess  we  will  go  no  far- 
ther with  these  cases  to-day  ; I am  a little  tired, 
and  the  Cabinet  will  he  coming  in  soon.”  “ I be- 
lieve, by  the  by,”  he  added,  “ that  I have  not  yet 
had  my  breakfast,  — this  business  has  been  so  ab- 
sorbing that  it  has  crowded  everything  else  out  of 
my  mind.” 

And  so  ended  the  work  of  one  morning ; simple 
in  its  detail,  but  pregnant  with  hope  and  joy,  dark- 
ness and  death,  to  many  human  beings. 


XII. 

As  the  different  members  of  the  Cabinet  came 
in,  the  President  introduced  me,  adding  in  several 
instances,  — “ He  has  an  idea  of  painting  a picture 
of  us  all  together.”  This,  of  course,  started  con- 
versation on  the  topic  of  art.  Presently  a reference 
was  made  by  some  one  to  Jones,  the  sculptor, 
whose  bust  of  Mr.  Lincoln  was  in  the  crimson 
parlor  below.  The  President,  I think,  was  writing 
at  this  instant.  Looking  up,  he  said,  “ Jones  tells 
a good  story  of  General  Scott,  of  whom  he  once 
made  a bust.  Having  a fine  subject  to  start  with, 
ne  succeeded  in  giving  great  satisfaction.  At  the 
closing  sitting  he  attempted  to  define  and  elab- 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


35 


orate  the  lines  and  markings  of  the  face.  The 
General  sat  patiently  ; but  when  he  came  to  see 
the  result,  his  countenance  indicated  decided  dis- 
pleasure. ‘ Why,  Jones,  what  have  you  been  do- 
ing?’ he  asked.  ‘Oh,’  rejoined  the  sculptor,  ‘not 
much,  I confess,  General ; I have  been  working 
out  the  details  of  the  face  a little  more,  this  morn- 
ing.’ ‘Details?’  exclaimed  the  General,  warmly ; 
‘ the  details  ! Why,  my  man,  you  are  spoil- 

ing the  bust ! ’ ” 

At  three  o’clock  the  President  was  to  accompany 
me,  by  appointment,  to  Brady’s  photographic  gal- 
leries on  Pennsylvania  Avenue.  The  carriage  had 
been  ordered,  and  Mrs.  Lincoln,  who  was  to  accom- 
pany us,  had  come  down  at  the  appointed  hour, 
dressed  for  the  ride,  when  one  of  those  vexations, 
incident  to  all  households,  occurred.  Neither  car- 
riage or  coachman  was  to  be  seen.  The  President 
and  myself  stood  upon  the  threshold  of  the  door 
under  the  portico,  awaiting  the  result  of  the  in- 
quiry for  the  coachman,  when  a letter  was  put 
into  his  hand.  While  he  was  reading  this,  people 
were  passing,  as  is  customary,  up  and  down  the 
promenade,  which  leads  through  the  grounds  to  the 
War  Department,  crossing,  of  course,  the  portico. 
My  attention  was  attracted  to  an  approaching  party, 
apparently  a countryman,  plainly  dressed,  with  his 
wife  and  two  little  boys,  who  had  evidently  been 
straying  about,  looking  at  the  places  of  public  inter- 
est in  the  city.  As  they  reached  the  portico,  ihe 


36  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

father,  who  was  in  advance,  caught  sight  of  the  tall 
figure  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  absorbed  in  his  letter.  His 
wife  and  the  little  boys  were  ascending  the  steps. 
The  man  stopped  suddenly,  put  out  his  hand  with 
a “ hush  ” to  his  family,  and,  after  a moment's 
gaze,  he  bent  down  and  whispered  to  them,  — 
“There  is  the  President!”  Then  leaving  them, 
he  slowly  made  a half  circuit  around  Mr.  Lincoln, 
watching  him  intently  all  the  while.  At  this  point, 
having  finished  his  letter,  the  President  turned  to 
me,  and  said:  “ Well,  we  will  not  wait  any  longer 
for  the  carriage ; it  won’t  hurt  you  and  me  to 
walk  down.”  The  countryman  here  approached 
very  diffidently,  and  asked  if  he  might  be  allowed 
to  take  the  President  by  the  hand ; after  which, 
“Would  he  extend  the  same  privilege  to  his  wife 
and  little  boys  ? ” Mr.  Lincoln  good-naturedly  ap- 
proached the  latter,  who  had  remained  where  they 
were  stopped,  and,  reaching  down,  said  a kind 
word  to  the  bashful  little  fellows,  who  shrank 
close  up  to  their  mother,  and  did  not  reply.  This 
simple  act  filled  the  father’s  cup  full.  “ The  Lord 
is  with  you,  Mr.  President,”  he  said  reverently ; 
and  then,  hesitating  a moment,  he  added,  with 
strong  emphasis,  “ and  the  people  too,  sir ; and  the 
people  too ! ” 

The  walk,  of  a mile  or  more,  was  made  very 
agreeable  and  interesting  to  me  by  a variety  of 
stories,  of  which  Mr.  Lincoln’s  mind  was  so  pro- 
lific. Something  was  said  soon  after  we  started 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  37 


About  the  penalty  which  attached  to  high  positions 
in  a democratic  government  — the  tribute  those 
filling  them  were  compelled  to  pay  to  the  pub- 
lic. “ Great  men,”  said  Mr.  Lincoln,  “ have  vari- 
ous estimates.  When  Daniel  Webster  made  his 
tour  through  the  West  years  ago,  he  visited  Spring- 
field  among  other  places,  where  great  preparations 
had  been  made  to  receive  him.  As  the  procession 
was  coiner  through  the  town,  a barefooted  little 
darkey  boy  pulled  the  sleeve  of  a man  named  T., 
and  asked,  — 1 What  the  folks  were  all  doing  down 
the  street  ? ’ ‘ Why,  Jack,’  was  the  reply,  1 the 

biggest  man  in  the  world  is  coming.’  Now,  there 
lived  in  Springfield  a man  by  the  name  of  G.,  — a 
very  corpulent  man.  Jack  darted  off  down  the 
street,  but  presently  returned,  with  a very  disap- 
pointed air.  ‘ Well,  did  you  see  him  ? ’ inquired  T. 
‘ Yees,’  returned  Jack ; ‘ but  laws  — he  ain’t  half  as 
big  as  old  G.’  ” 

Shortly  afterward,  he  spoke  of  Mr.  Ewing,  who 
was  in  both  President  Harrison’s  and  President 
Taylor’s  cabinet.  “ Those  men,”  said  he,  “ were, 
you  know,  when  elected,  both  of  advanced  years, 
— sages.  Ewing  had  received,  in  some  way,  the 
nickname  of  ‘ Old  Solitude.’  Soon  after  the  for- 
mation of  Taylor’s  cabinet,  Webster  and  Ewing 
happened  to  meet  at  an  evening  party.  As  they 
approached  each  other,  Webster,  who  was  in  fine 
spirits,  uttered,  in  his  deepest  bass  tones,  the  well- 
known  lines,  — 


38  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


“ ‘ O Solitude,  where  are  the  charms 
That  sages  have  seen  in  thy  face?  ’ ” 

The  evening  of  Tuesday  I dined  with  Mr. 
Chase,  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  of  whom  I 
painted  a portrait  in  1855,  upon  the  close  of  his 
term  as  United  States  Senator.  He  said  during 
the  dinner,  that,  shortly  after  the  dedication  of  the 
cemetery  at  Gettysburg,  the  President  told  this 
story  at  a cabinet  meeting.  “ Thad.  Stevens  was 
asked  by  some  one,  the  morning  of  the  day  ap- 
pointed for  that  ceremony,  where  the  President 
and  Mr.  Seward  were  going.  ‘ To  Gettysburg,’ 
was  the  reply.  ‘ But  where  are  Stanton  and 
Chase  ? ’ continued  the  questioner.  ‘ At  home, 
at  work,’  was  the  surly  answer ; ‘ let  the  dead 
bury  the  dead.’  ” This  was  some  months  pre- 
vious to  the  Baltimore  Convention,  when  it  was 
thought  by  some  of  the  leaders  of  the  party,  that 
Mr.  Lincoln’s  chances  for  a re-nomination  were 
somewhat  dubious. 

Levee  night  occurring  weekly,  during  the 
regular  season,  was  always  a trying  one  to  the 
President.  Whenever  sympathy  was  expressed 
for  him,  however,  he  would  turn  it  off  playfully, 
asserting  that  the  tug  at  his  hand  was  much 
easier  to  bear  than  that  upon  his  heartstrings  for 
all  manner  of  favors  beyond  his  power  to  grant,  to 
which  he  had  daily  to  submit.  As  I took  his  hand 
at  the  levee,  which  closed  my  first  day’s  experi- 
ences with  him,  he  said  in  his  homely  way, 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


39 


“ Well,  C.,  you  have  seen  one  clay’s  run;  — what 
is  your  opinion  of  it  ? ” 

XIII. 

Wednesday  morning  was  devoted  to  the  contin- 
ued examination  of  the  court-martial  cases,  to  the 
great  vexation  of  a score  of  political  applicants, 
whom  I could  hear  impatiently  pacing  the  floor  of 
the  hall  and  waiting-room.  At  one  o’clock,  how- 
ever, the  doors  were  thrown  open,  and  the  throng 
admitted  and  dismissed,  as  rapidly  as  possible.  I 
was  mucn  amused  and  interested,  later  in  the  day, 
in  a variety  of  characters  who  presented  them- 
selves. First  was  an  elderly  lady,  plainly  but 
comfortably  dressed,  whose  son  was  a prisoner  in 
Baltimore.  Her  story,  spun  out  to  some  length,  . 
was  briefly  this : Her  son  had  been  serving  in  the 
Rebel  army.  He  heard  that  his  sister  was  lying 
dead  at  home,  and  his  mother  at  the  supposed 
point  of  death.  He  determined  to  see  them,  and 
succeeded  in  o;ettino;  through  our  lines  undiscov- 
ered.  He  found  his  mother  better.  Before  he  got 
ready  o return,  he  became  very  ill  himself.  She 
said  she  hid  him  in  the  house  until  he  recovered, 
and  on  his  way  back  to  his  regiment  he  was  cap- 
tured. He  was  now  anxious  to  take  the  oath, 
and  his  mother  assured  the  President  that  he 
should  henceforth  “ have  nothing  to  do  with  the 
Rebels.”  Mr.  Lincoln  sat  quietly  through  the  story, 


10  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


his  face  in  half  shadow.  As  she  finished  he  said, 
with  some  impatience,  — “Now  this  is  a pretty  story 
to  come  to  me  with,  isn’t  it?  Your  son  came 
home  from  fighting  against  his  country ; he  was 
sick ; you  secreted  him,  nursed  him  up,  and  when 
cured,  started  him  off  again  to  help  destroy  some 
more  of  our  boys.  Taken  prisoner,  trying  to  get 
through  our  lines,  you  now  want  me  to  let  him  off 
upon  his  oath.”  “Yes,”  said  the  woman,  not  in 
the  least  disconcerted,  “ and  I give  you  my  word, 
Mr.  President,  he  shall  never  have  anything  more 
to  do  with  the  Rebels  — never  — I was  always 
opposed  to  his  joining  them.”  “ Your  word,”  re- 
joined Mr.  Lincoln  dryly,  “ what  do  I know  about 
your  word  ? ” He  finally  took  the  application,  and 
writing  something  upon  the  back  of  it,  returned  it 
-to  her  with  the  words,  “Now,  I want  you  to  un- 
derstand that  I have  done  this  just  to  get  rid  of 
you  ! ” “ Oh,”  said  she,  “ Mr.  President,  1 have 

always  heard  that  you  were  such  a kind-hearted 
man,  and  now  I know  it  is  true.”  And  so,  with 
much  apparent  satisfaction,  she  withdrew. 

The  party  that  followed  consisted  of  a lady  and 
two  gentlemen.  She  had  come  to  ask  that  her 
husband,  who  was  also  a prisoner  of  war,  might 
be  permitted  to  take  the  oath  and  be  released  from 
confinement.  To  secure  a degree  of  interest  on 
the  part  of  the  President,  one  of  the  gentlemen 
claimed  to  be  an  acquaintance  of  Mrs.  Lincoln ; 
this,- however,  received  but  little  attention,  an  1 the 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  TI1E  WHITE  HOUSE. 


41 


President  proceeded  to  ask  what  position  the  lady’s 
husband  held  in  the  Rebel  service.  “ Oh,”  said 
she,  “ he  was  a captain.”  “ A captain /”  rejoined 
Mr.  Lincoln,  “indeed  ! — rather  too  big  a fish  to  set 
free  simply  upon  his  taking  the  oath.  If  he  was 
an  officer,  it  is  proof  positive  that  he  has  been  a 
zealous  rebel  : I cannot  release  him.”  Here  the 
lady's  friend  reiterated  the  assertion  of  his  acquaint- 
ance with  Mrs.  Lincoln.  Instantly  the  President’s 
hand  was  upon  the  bell-rope.  The  usher  in  attend- 
ance answered  the  summons.  “ Cornelius,  take 
this  man’s  name  to  Mrs.  Lincoln,  and  ask  her  what 
she  knows  of  him.”  The  boy  presently  returned, 
with  the  reply  that  “ the  Madam  ” (as  she  was 
called  by  the  servants)  knew  nothing  of  him  what- 
ever. The  man  said  it  was  very  strange.  “ Well, 
it  is  just  as  I suspected,”  said  the  President.  The 
party  made  one  more  attempt  to  enlist  his  sym- 
pathy, but  without  effect.  “ It  is  of  no  use,”  was 
the  reply ; “ I cannot  release  him  ; ” and  the  trio 
withdrew,  the  lady  in  high  displeasure. 

Next  came  a Methodist  minister  by  the  name  of 
“ G.,”  claiming  to  be  the  son  of  the  inventor  of 
iron-clad  gunboats.  Lie  had  understood  that  the 
President  appointed  the  hospital  chaplains,  and  he 
greatly  desired  such  a place.  Mr.  Lincoln  re- 
plied rather  curtly,  that  he  could  do  nothing  for 
•him.  “But  I was  told,  sir,  that  these  appointments 
were  made  by  the  President,”  said  the  gentleman, 
very  respectfully.  “ I will  just  tell  you  how  that 


42 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


is,”  was  the  answer ; “ when  there  are  vacancies  I 
appoint,  not  without.”  The  clergyman  here  alluded 
to  his  having  left  with  the  private  secretary  a war- 
sermon  which  he  had  lately  preached.  Stepping 
out,  he  returned  with  the  pamphlet,  saying,  as  he 
handed  it  to  the  President,  “ I suppose,  sir,  you 
have  little  time  to  read  anything  of  this  kind  ;■  but  I 
shall  be  very  glad  to  leave  it  with  you.”  Upon 
this  he  bowed  himself  out,  and  the  sermon  was 
carelessly  tossed  aside,  never  to  be  thought  of  again 
by  Mr.  Lincoln.  • 

Subsequently  the  sermon  fell  into  my  hands.  The 
only  thing  I remember  about  it  was  the  practi- 
cal application  of  a professional  incident.  The 
clei’gyman  one  day  fell  in  with  two  soldiers  fighting. 
One  had  the  other  down,  and  was  severely  hand- 
ling him.  Rebuking;  the  men,  the  one  underneath 
responded  very  heartily,  “ Plase  your  riverince , I 
am  willing  to  give  up  this  minute,  solely  out  of 
respect  for  your  riverince .”  And  so  the  preacher 
thought  the  South  should  be  made  to  say  “ in  re- 
gard to  the  Constitution.” 

XIY. 

The  examples  given  of  the  observations  of  two 
days,  are  fair  illustrations  of  the  usual  White 
House  routine,  varied  of  course  by  official  or  dip- 
lomatic business,  and  a greater  or  less  pressure  of 
visitors,  some  of  whom  would  linger  in  the  anteroom 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


43 


day  after  day,  waiting  admission.  The  incidents  of 
no  two  days  could  of  course  be  alike.  I shall  never 
cease  to  regret  that  an  additional  private  secretary 
could  not  have  Jbeen  appointed,  whose  exclusive 
duty  it  should  have  been  to  look  after  and  keep  a 
record  of  all  cases  appealing  to  executive  clemency. 
It  would  have  afforded  full  employment  for  one 
man,  at  least ; and  such  a volume  would  now  be 
beyond  all  price. 

Just  before  leaving  for  Washington,  I met  a 
brother  artist,  who,  upon  learning  of  my  proposed, 
purpose,  laid  before  me  the  details  of  an  interest- 
ing case,  concerning  his  only  son,  begging  me  tc 
bring  the  circumstances  to  the  President’s  knowl- 
edge. When  the  war  broke  out  the  young  man 
in  question  was  living  at  the  South.  Eventually 
driven  into  the  Rebel  service,  he  was  improving  his 
first  opportunity  to  go  over  to  the  Union  lines, 
when  he  vms  taken  prisoner.  His  story  wras  disbe- 
lieved, and  he  had  been  in  prison  for  more  than  a 
year  at  Alton,  Illinois.  His  father  had  spent  many 
months  in  the  endeavor  to  have  him  released,  with- 
out success.  So  many  formalities  and  technicalities 
were  in  the  way  that  he  became  completely  dis- 
couraged, and  appealed  to  me  as  his  last  hope. 
The  boy  was  very  ill,  and  he  feared  if  not  speedily 
released,  would  soon  die.  Promising  the  father 
that  I would  bear  the  ease  in  mind,  I improved  an 
opportunity,  as  soon  as  I felt  sure  of  having  found 
favor  with  the  President,  to  speak  to  him  about  it. 


44  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

I believe  it  was  on  the  private  staircase,  that,  meet- 
ing him  one  evening,  I ventured  to  introduce  the 
subject.  I assured  him  of  the  entire  good  faith 
and  loyalty  of  both  father  and  son.  Of  course  he 
had  never  heard  of  the  case  before.  Considering 
the  subject  a moment,  he  said,  “ Come  up-stairs 
by-and-by,  and  I guess  we  can  fix  it  up.” 

An  hour  later  I entered  his  room,  and  gave  him 
very  briefly  the  particulars  of  the  case  ; reading 
one  or  two  letters  from  the  young  man  to  his 
father.  “ That  will  do,”  said  the  President,  put- 
ting on  his  spectacles,  and  taking  the  letter  out  of 
my  hand,  he  turned  it  over  and  wrote  on  the  back 
of  it,  “ Release  this  man  upon  his  taking  the  oath. 
A.  Lincoln.”  “ There,”  said  he,  “ you  can  take 
that  over  to  the  War  Department  yourself,  if  you 
choose.  You  will  find  it  all  right.” 

XY. 

Wednesday  night,  February  10th,  was  an  excit- 
ing one  at  the  White  House,  the  stables  belonging 
to  the  mansion  being  burned  to  the  ground.  The 
loss  most  severely  felt  was  of  the  two  ponies,  one 
of  which  had  belonged  to  Willie  Lincoln,  the 
President’s  second  son,  who  died  in  1862,  and 
the  other  to  Tad,  the  youngest,  and  pet  of  his 
father,  who  in  his  infancy  nicknamed  him  Tad- 
pole, subsequently  abbreviated  to  Taddie,  and 
then  Tad.  His  real  name  is  Thomas,  named 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


45 


for  the  father  of  Mr.  Lincoln.  Upon  “ Tad’s  ” 
learning  of  the  loss,  he  threw  himself  at  full  length 
upon  the  floor,  and  could  not  be  comforted.  The 
only  allusion  I ever  heard  the  President  make  to 
Willie  was  on  this  occasion,  in  connection  with 
the  loss  of  his  pony.  John  Hay,  the  assistant  pri- 
vate secretary,  told  me  that  he  was  rarely  known 
to  speak  of  his  lost  son. 

The  morning  following,  the  fire,  Robert  Lincoln 
came  into  his  father’s  office,  and  said  he  had  a point 
of  law  which  he  wished  to  submit.  It  appeared 
that  one  of  the  coachmen  had  two  or  three  hundred 
dollars  in  greenbacks  in  his  room  over  the  sta- 
bles, which  were  consumed.  Robert  said  that  he 
and  John  Hay  had  been  having  an  argument  as  to 
the  liability  of  the  government  for  its  notes,  where 
it  could  be  shown  that  they  had  been  burned,  or 
otherwise  destroyed.  The  President  turned  the 
matter  over  in  his  mind  for  a moment,  and  said, 
“ The  payment  of  a note  presupposes  its  presenta- 
tion to  the  maker  of  it.  It  is  the  sign  or  symbol 
of  value  received ; it  is  not  value  itself,  that  is , 
clear.  At  the  same  time  the  production  of  the  note 
seems  a necessary  warrant  for  the  demand  ; and 
while  the  moral  obligation  is  as  stx'ong  without  this, 
governments  and  banking  institutions  do  not  recog- 
nize any  principle  beyond  the  strictly  legal.  It  is 
an  established  rule  that  the  citizen  cannot  sue 
the  government  ; therefore,  I don’t  see  but  that 
it  is  a dead  loss  for  Jehu.” 


46  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

About  this  time  a couple  of  Kentucky  gentlemen 
called.  As  they  rose  to  take  leave,  one  of  them, 
who  may  have  noticed  little  Tad,  — as  he  usu- 
ally spent  much  time  in  his  father’s  office,  — said  to 
the  President : “ General  Crittenden  told  me  an 
interesting  incident  about  his  jon,  eight  or  nine 
years  old,  a few  days  since.  A day  or  two  after 
the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  the  little  fellow  came 
into  camp.  The  General  rode  during  the  battle  a 
horse  which  went  by  the  name  of  John  Jay,  a 
great  favorite  with  his  son.  Manifesting  his  de- 
light upon  again  seeing  his  father,  bv  covering  him 
with  caresses,  the  child  at  length  said,  ‘Papa,  where 
is  John  Jay?’  ‘Oh,’  said  his  father,  ‘your 
horse  behaved  very  badly  during  the  fight ; he 
insisted,  very  cowardly,  upon  taking  me  to  the 
rear.’  The  little  fellow’s  eyes  sparkled.  ‘ Papa,’ 
said  he,  ‘ I know  John  Jay  would  never  have 
’one  that  of  his  own  will.  It  must  have  been  your 
work.’  ” 

Montgomery  Blair  told  me  that  when  the  con- 
vention which  nominated  Mr.  Lincoln  met  at  Chi- 
cago, there  was  a hideous  painting  in  the  hall  which 
was  brought  forward  subsequently  as  a likeness  of 
the  nominee.  Most  of  the  delegates  having  never 
seen  the  original,  the  effect  upon  them  was  indescrib- 
able. I replied  to  Mr.  Blair  that  my  friend  Brady, 
the  photographer,  insisted  that  his  photograph  of 
Mr.  Lincoln,  taken  the  morning  of  the  day  he 
made  his  Cooper  Institute  speech  in  New  York,  — 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


47 


much  the  best  portrait,  by  the  way,  in  circulation 
of  him  during  the  campaign,  — was  the  means  of 
his  election.  That  it  helped  largely  to  this  end 
I do  not  doubt.  The  effect  of  such  influences, 
though  silent,  is  powerful.  Fremont  once  said  to 
me,  that  the  villanous  wood-cut  published  by  the 
New  York  “ Tribune,”  the  next  day  after  his  nomi- 
nation, lost  him  twenty-five  votes  in  one  township, 
to  his  certain  knowledge. 

On  one  of  the  last  days  of  February,  I called, 

with  my  friend  W , of  New  York,  upon  Mr. 

Lovejoy,  who  was  supposed  to  be  convalescent. 
He  thought  himself  nearly  well  again,  and  was  in 
fine  spirits.  Indications  of  an  organized  movement 
to  bring  forward  Fremont,  as  an  opposition  candi- 
date to  Mr.  Lincoln,  had  recently  appeared.  Mr. 
Lovejoy  was  very  severe  upon  it ; he  said,  “ Any 
attempt  to  divide  the  party  at  such  a time  was 
criminal  in  the  last  degree.”  I remember  observ- 
ing that  many  of  the  extreme  anti-slavery  men  ap- 
peared to  distrust  the  President.  This  drew  out 
his  indignant  condemnation.  “ I tell  you?”  said  he, 
“ Mr.  Lincoln  is  at  heart  as  strong  an  anti-slavery 
man  as  any  of  them,  but  he  is  compelled  to  feel 
his  way.  He  has  a responsibility  in  this  matter 
which  many  men  do  not  seem  to  be  able  to  com- 
orehend.  I say  to  you  frankly,  that  I believe  his 
course  to  be  right.  His  mind  acts  slowly,  but  when 
he  moves,  it  is  forward.  You  will  never  find  him 
receding  from  a position  once  taken.  It  is  of  no 


48  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

use  talking,  or  getting  up  conventions  against  him. 
He  is  going  to  be  the  candidate  of  the  Baltimore 
Convention,  and  is  sure  to  be  reelected.  ‘It  was 
foreordained  from  the  foundation  of  the  world.’ 
I have  no  sympathy  or  patience  with  those  who 
are  trying  to  manufacture  issues  against  him  ; but 
they  will  not  succeed  ; he  is  too  strong  with  the 
masses.  For  my  part,”  he  concluded,  “ I am  not 
only  willing  to  take  Mr.  Lincoln  for  another  term, 
but  the  same  cabinet,  right  straight  through.” 

7 o o o 


XYI. 

Wednesday,  March  2d,  I had  an  unusually 
long  and  interesting  sitting  from  the  President. 
I invited  Mr.  Samuel  Sinclair,  of  New  York, 
who  was  in  Washington,  to  be  present.  The  news 
had  recently  been  received  of  the  disaster  under 
General  Seymour  in  Florida.  Many  newspapers 
openly  charged  the  President  with  having  sent  the 
expedition  with  primary  reference  to  restoring  the 
State  in  season  to  secure  its  vote  at  the  forthcom- 
ing Baltimore  Convention.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  deeply 
wounded  by  these  charges.  He  referred  to  them 
during  the  sitting ; and  gave  a simple  and  truthful 
statement  of  the  affair,  which  was  planned,  if  I re- 
member rightly,  by  General  Gillmore.  A few  days 
afterward,  an  editorial  appeared  in  the  New  York 
“ Tribune,”  which  was  known  not  to  favor  Mr.  Lin- 
coln’s renomination,  entirely  exonerating  him  from 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


49 


all  blame.  I took  the  article  to  him  in  his  study, 
and  he  expressed  much  gratification  at  its  candor. 
It  was,  perhaps,  in  connection  with  the  newspaper 
attacks,  that  he  told,  during  the  sitting,  this  story. 
— “A  traveller  on  the  frontier  found  himself  out  of 
his  reckoning  one  night  in  a most  inhospitable  re- 
gion. A terrific  thunder-storm  came  up,  to  add  to 
his  trouble.  He  floundered  along  until  his  horse  at 
length  gave  out.  The  lightning  afforded  him  the 
only  clew  to  his  way,  but  the  peals  of  thunder  were 
frightful.  One  bolt,  which  seemed  to  crash  the 
earth  beneath  him,  brought  him  to  his  knees.  By 
no  means  a praying  man,  his  petition  was  short 
and  to  the  point,  — “ O Lord,  if  it  is  all  the  same 
to  you,  give  us  a little  more  light  and  a little  less 
noise ! ” 

Presently  the  conversation  turned  upon  Shak- 
speare,  of  whom  it  is  well  known  Mr.  Lincoln 
was  very  fond.  He  once  remarked,  “ It  matters 
not  to  me  whether  Shakspeare  be  well  or  ill  acted  ; 
with  him  the  thought  suffices.”  Edwin  Booth  was 
playing  an  engagement  at  this  time  at*  Grover’s 
Theatre.  He  had  been  announced  for  the  coming 
evening  in  his  famous  part  of  Hamlet.  The 
President  had  never  witnessed  his  representation  of 
this  character,  and  he  proposed  being  present.  The 
nenti  >n  of  this  play,  which  I afterward  learned 
had  at  all  times  a peculiar  charm  for  Mr.  Lincoln's 
mind,  waked  up  a train  of  thought  I was  not  pre- 
pared for.  Said  he,  — and  his  words  have  often 
i 


50  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


returned  to  me  with  a sad  interest  since  his  own 
assassination,  — “There  is  one  passage  of  the  play 
of  “Hamlet”  which  is  very  apt  to  be  slurred  over  by 
the  actor,  or  omitted  altogether,  which  seems  to  me 
the  choicest  part  of  the  play.  It  is  the  soliloquy 
of  the  king,  after  the  murder.  It  always  struck 
me  as  one  of  the  finest  touches  of  nature  in  the 
world.” 

Then,  throwing  himself  into  the  very  spirit  of 
the  scene,  he  took  up  the  words  : — 

“ O my  offence  is  rank,  it  smells  to  heaven; 

It  hath  the  primal  eldest  curse  upon ’t, 

A brother’s  murder ! — Pray  can  I not, 

Though  inclination  be  as  sharp  as  will; 

My  stronger  guilt  defeats  my  strong  intent; 

And,  like  a man  to  double  business  bound, 

I stand  in  pause  where  I shall  first  begin, 

And  both  neglect.  What  if  this  cursed  hand 
Were  thicker  than  itself  with  brother’s  blood? 

Is  there  not  rain  enough  in  the  sweet  heavens 
To  wash  it  white  as  snow?  Whereto  serves  mercy 
But  to  confront  the  visage  of  offence; 

And  what ’s  in  prayer  but  this  twofold  force  — 

To  be  forestalled  ere  we  come  to  fall, 

Or  pardoned,  being  down  ? Then  I ’ll  look  up; 

My  fault  is  past.  But  O what  form  of  prayer 

Can  serve  my  turn?  Forgive  me  my  foul  murder?—* 

That  cannot  be;  since  I am  still  possessed 
Of  those  effects  for  which  I did  the  murder,  — 

My  crown,  my  own  ambition,  and  mjr  queen. 

May  one  be  pardoned  and  retain  the  offence? 

In  the  corrupted  currents  of  this  world, 

Offence’s  gilded  hand  may  shove  by  justice, 

And  oft ’t  is  seen  the  wicked  prize  itself 
Buys  out  the  law ; but ’t  is  not  so  above. 

There  is  no  shuffling;  there  the  action  lies 
In  its  true  nature : and  we  ourselves  compelled, 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


51 


Even  to  the  teeth  atid  forehead  of  our  faults, 

To  give  in  evidence.  What  then  V what  rests? 

Try  what  repentance  can;  what  can  it  not? 

Yet  what  can  it  when  one  cannot  repent? 

O wretched  state!  O bosom  black  as  death! 

O bruised  soul  that,  struggling  to  be  free, 

Art  more  engaged!  Help,  angels,  make  assay! 

Bow,  stubborn  knees!  And  heart  with  strings  of  steel, 

Be  soft  as  sinews  of  the  new-born  babe; 

All  may  be  well ! ” 

He  repeated  this  entire  passage  from  memory, 
with  a feeling  and  appreciation  unsurpassed  by  any- 
thing I ever  witnessed  upon  the  stage.  Remaining 
in  thought  for  a few  moments,  he  continued  : — 

“ The  opening  of  the  play  of  ‘ King  Richard  the 
Third’  seems  to  me  often  entirely  misapprehended. 
It  is  quite  common  for  an  actor  to  come  upon  the 
stage,  and,  in  a sophomoric  style,  to  begin  with  a 
flourish : — 

“ ‘ Now  is  the  winter  of  our  discontent 

Made  glorious  summer  by  this  sun  of  York, 

And  all  the  clouds  that  lowered  upon  our  house, 

In  the  deep  bosom  of  the  ocean  buried ! ’ 

Now,”  said  he,  “ this  is  all  wrong.  Richard,  you 
remember,  had  been,  and  was  then,  plotting  the 
destruction  of  his  brothers,  to  make  room  for  him- 
self. Outwardly,  the  most  loyal  to  the  newly 
crowned  king,  secretly  he  could  scarcely  contain 
his  impatience  at  the  obstacles  still  in  the  way 
of  his  own  elevation.  He  appears  upon  the  stage, 
just  after  the  crowning  of  Edward,  burning  with 
repressed  hate  and  jealousy.  The  prologue  is  the 
atterance  of  the  most  intense  bitterness  and  satire.” 


52 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


Then,  unconsciously  assuming  the  character,  Mi’, 
Lincoln  repeated,  also  from  memory,  Richard’s 
soliloquy,  rendering  it  with  a degree  of  force  and 
power  that  made  it  seem  like  a new  creation  to  me. 
Though  familiar  with  the  passage  from  boyhood,  I 
can  truly  say  that  never  till  that  moment  had  I 
fully  appreciated  its  spirit.  I could  not  refrain 
from  laying  down  my  palette  and  brushes,  and  ap- 
plauding heartily,  upon  his  conclusion,  saying,  at 
the  same  time,  half  in  earnest,  that  I was  not 
sure  but  that  he  had  made  a mistake  in  the  choice 
af  a profession,  considerably,  as  may  be  imagined, 
to  his  amusement.  Mr.  Sinclair  has  since  repeat- 
edly said  to  me  that  he  never  heard  these  choice 
passages  of  Shakspeare  rendered  with  more  effect 
by  the  most  famous  of  modern  actors. 

Mr.  Lincoln’s  memory  was  very  remarkable. 
With  the  multitude  of  visitors  whom  he  saw  daily, 
I was  often  amazed  at  the  readiness  with  which  he 
recalled  faces  and  events  and  even  names.  At 
one  of  the  afternoon  receptions,  a stranger 
shook  hands  with  him,  and,  as  he  did  so,  re- 
marked, casually,  that  he  was  elected  to  Congress 
about  the  time  Mr.  Lincoln’s  term  as  representa- 
tive expired.  “Yes,”  said  the  President,  “you 
are  from ,”  mentioning  the  State.  “ I remem- 

ber reading  of  your  election  in  a newspaper  one 
morning  on  a steamboat  going  down  to  Mount  Ver- 
non.” At  another  time  a gentleman  addressed  him, 
saying,  “ I presume,  Mr.  President,  that  you  have 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  5§ 

forgotten  me  ? ” “ No,”  was  tlie  prompt  reply  • 

“your  name  is  Flood.  I saw  you  last,  twelve 
years  ago,  at ,”  naming  the  place  and  the  oc- 

casion. “ I am  glad  to  see,”  he  continued,  “ that 
the  Flood  flows  on.”  Subsequent  to  his  reelection 
a deputation  of  bankers  from  various  sections  were 
introduced  one  day  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Treas- 
ury. After  a few  moments’  general  conversation, 
Mr.  Lincoln  turned  to  one  of  them,  and  said  : 
“ Your  district  did  not  give  me  so  strong  a vote 
at  the  last  election  as  it  did  in  1860.”  “ I think, 

sir,  that  you  must  be  mistaken,”  replied  the 
banker.  “ I have  the  impression  that  your  ma- 
jority was  considerably  increased  at  the  last  elec- 
tion.” “ No,”  rejoined  the  President,  “ you  fell 
off  about  six  hundred  votes.”  Then  taking  down 
from  the  bookcase  the  official  canvass  of  1860 
and  1861,  he  referred  to  the  vote  of  the  district 
named,  and  proved  to  be  quite  right  in  his  asser- 
tion. 

During  this  interview,  — related  to  me  by  one 

of  the  party,  Mr.  P , of  Chelsea,  Mass.,  — a 

member  of  the  delegation  referred  to  the  severity 
of  the  tax  laid  by  Congress  upon  the  State  Banks. 
“ Now,”  said  Mr.  Lincoln,  “ that  reminds  me  of  a 
circumstance  that  took  place  in  a neighborhood 
where  I lived  when  I was  a boy.  In  the  spring  of 
the  year  the  farmers  were  very  fond  of  the  dish 
which  they  called  greens,  though  the  fashionable 
name  for  it  nowadays  is  spinach,  I believe.  One  day 


54  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


after  dinner,  a large  family  were  taken  very  ill, 
The  doctor  was  called  in,  who  attributed  it  to  the 
greens,  of  which  all  had  freely  partaken.  Living 
in  the  family  was  a half-witted  boy  named  Jake. 
On  a subsequent  occasion,  when  greens  had 
been  gathered  for  dinner,  the  head  of  the  house 
said  : ‘ Now,  boys,  before  running  any  further  risk 
in  this  thing,  we  will  first  try  them  on  Jake.  If  he 
stands  it,  we  are  all  right.’  And  just  so,  I sup- 
pose,” said  Mr.  Lincoln,  “ Congress  thought  of 
the  State  Banks  ! ” 


XVII. 

While  sitting  one  day,  Secretary  Stanton  — 
whom  I usually  found  quite  taciturn  — referred 
to  the  meeting  of  the  Buchanan  Cabinet  called 
upon  receipt  of  the  news  that  Colonel  Anderson  had 
evacuated  Moultrie,  and  gone  into  Fort  Sumter. 
“ This  little  incident,”  said  Stanton,  “ was  the 
crisis  of  our  history,  — the  pivot  upon  which  every- 
thing turned.  Had  he  remained  in  Fort  Moultrie, 
a very  different  combination  of  circumstances  would 
have  arisen.  The  attack  on  Sumter  — commenced 
by  the  South — united  the  North,  and  made  the 
success  of  the  Confederacy  impossible.  I shall 
never  forget,”  he  continued,  “our  coming  together 
by  special  summons  that  night.  Buchanan  sat  in 
his  arm-chair  in  a corner  of  the  room,  white  as  a 
sheet,  with  the  stump  of  a cigar  in  his  mouth.  The 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  55 

despatches  were  laid  before  us  ; and  so  much  vio* 
lence  ensued,  that  he  had  to  turn  us  all  out-of- 
doors.” 

The  day  following,  by  special  permission  of  Mr. 
Lincoln,  I was  present  at  the  regular  Cabinet  meet- 
ing. Judge  Bates  came  in  first,  and,  taking  a 
package  out  of  his  pocket,  said,  “You  may  not  be 
aware,  Mr.  President,  that  you  have  a formidable 
rival  in  the  field.  I received  this  through  the  mail 
to-day.”  He  unfolded  an  immense  placard,  on 
which  was  printed  in  large  letters,  — “I  introduce 
for  President  of  the  United  States,  Mr.  T.  W.  Smith 
[I  think  this  was  the  name],  of  Philadelphia.” 
The  bill  then  went  on  to  enumerate  the  qualifications 
of  the  candidate,  which  were  of  a stunning  order ; 
and  the  whole  was  signed  “ George  Bates,”  which 
the  Attorney-General  said  might  be  a relative  of 
his,  for  aught  he  knew.  This  decidedly  original 
document  was  pinned  up  in  a conspicuous  place  in 
the  council-chamber,  where  it  hung  for  several 
days,  of  course  attracting  the  attention  of  all  vis- 
itors, and  creating  much  amusement. 

The  disaster  on  the  Red  River  was  the  subject 
of  official  consultation.  The  positions  of  the  re- 
spective forces  were  traced  on  the  war  maps,  and 
various  suggestions  and  opinions  offered.  The  Sec- 
retary of  the  Interior,  looking  over  to  where  the 
Secretary  of  War  sat,  said  he  had  a young  friend 
whom  he  wished  to  have  appointed  a paymaster 
in  the  army . “ How  old  is  he  ? ” asked  Stanton, 


56 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  TIIE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


gruffly.  “About  twenty-one,  I believe,”  answered 
the  Secretary  of  the  Interior;  “he  is  of  good  fam- 
ily and  excellent  character.”  “ Usher,"  was  the 
reply,  “ I would  not  appoint  the  Alltel  Gabriel  a 
paymaster,  if  he  was  only  twenty-one.” 

.Judge  Bates,  who  was  to  have  a sitting  after  the 
adjournment,  here  beckoned  to  me,  signifying  that 
he  \\as  ready  for  the  appointment.  And  so  ended 
my  brief  glimpse  of  a cabinet  in  session. 


XVIII. 

General  Grant  reached  Washington,  after  his 
nomination  to  the  Lieutenant-Generalship,  the  even- 
ing of  March  8th,  1864.  His  reception  at  Wil- 
lard’s Hotel,  unaccompanied  by  stall'  or  escort,  was 
an  event  never  to  be  forgotten  by  those  who  wit- 
nessed it.  Later  in  the  evening  he  attended  the 
Presidential  levee,  entering  the  reception-room 
unannounced.  He  was  recognized  and  welcomed  by 
the  President  with  the  utmost  cordiality,  and  the 
distinguished  stranger  was  soon  nearly  over- 
whelmed by  the  pressure  of  the  crowd  upon  him. 
Seci\  ary  Seward  at  length  mounting  a sofa,  pulled 
the  modest  hero  up  by  his  side,  where  he  stood  for 
some  time,  bowing  his  acknowledgments  to  the  tu-. 
nudtucus  assemblage.  He  subsequently  remarked 
that  this  was  “his  warmest  campaign  during  the 
war.” 

The  next  day  at  one  o’clock  he  was  formally 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


57 


presented  by  the  President  with  his  commission  as 
Lieutenant-General.  The  ceremony  took  place  in 
the  presence  of  the  Cabinet,  the  Hon.  Mr.  Love- 
joy,  and  several  officers  of  the  army,  and  was  very 
brief  and  simple,  as  became  the  character  of  each 
of  the  illustrious  chief  actors. 

On  the  day  following  General  Grant  visited  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  upon  his  return  to 
Washington  he  made  preparations  to  leave  imme- 
diately for  the  West.  At  the  close  of  a consulta- 
tion with  the  President  and  Secretary  of  War,  he 
was  informed  that  Mrs.  Lincoln  expected  his  pres- 
ence the  same  evening  at  a military  dinner  she 
proposed  to  give  in  his  honor.  The  General  at 
once  responded  that  it  would  be  impossible  for  him 
to  remain  over,  — he  “ must  be  in  Tennessee  at  a 
given  time.”  “ But  we  can’t  excuse  you,”  re- 
turned the  Pi-esident.  “ It  would  be  the  play 
of  ‘ Hamlet  ’ with  Hamlet  left  out,  over  again. 
Twelve  distinguished  officers,  now  in  the  city,  have 
been  invited  to  meet  you.”  “ I appreciate  fully 
the  honor  Mrs.  Lincoln  would  do  me,”  replied  the 
General,  hesitatingly,  knocking  the  ashes  eff  the 
end  of  his  cigar;  “but — time  is  very  precious 
just  now  — and  — really,  Mr.  President,  I be- 
lieve 1 have  had  enough  of  the  ‘ show  ’ business  ! ” 

The  dinner  was  given  ; the  twelve  officers 
did  full  justice  to  it ; but  it  is  needless  to  add, 
the  Lieutenant-General  was  not  one  of  the  num- 
ber. 


58 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


XIX. 

The  evening  of  March  25th  was  an  intensely 
interesting  one  to  me.  It  was  passed  with  the 
Pi  •esident  alone  in  his  study,  marked  by  no  inter- 
ruptions. Busy  with  pen  and  papers  when  I en- 
tered, he  presently  threw  them  aside,  and  com- 
menced talking  again  about  Shakspeare.  Little 
Tad  coming  in,  he  sent  him  to  the  library  for 
a copy  of  the  plays,  from  which  he  read  aloud  sev- 
eral of  his  favorite  passages.  Relapsing  into  a 
sadder  strain,  he  laid  the  book  aside,  and  leaning 
back  in  his  chair,  said,  “ There  is  a poem  that 
has  been  a great  favorite  with  me  for  years,  to 
which  my  attention  was  first  called  when  a young 
man,  by  a friend,  and  which  I afterward  saw  and 
cut  from  a newspaper,  and  carried  in  my  pocket, 
till  by  frequent  reading  I had  it  by  heart.  I would 
give  a great  deal,”  he  added,  “ to  know  who  wrote 
it,  but  I never  could  ascertain.”  Then,  half  clos- 
ing his  eyes,  he  repeated  the  poem,  “ Oh  ! why 
should  the  spirit  of  mortal  be  proud  ? ” Surprised 
and  delighted,  I told  him  that  I should  greatly 
prize  a copy  of  the  lines.  He  replied  that  he  had 
recently  written  them  out  for  Mrs.  Stanton,  but 
promised  that  when  a favorable  opportunity  oc- 
curred he  would  give  them  to  mo. 

Varying  the  subject,  he  continued:  “There  are 
some  quaint,  queer  verses,  written,  I think,  by 
Oliver  Wendell  Holmes,  entitled,  ‘ The  Last  Leaf,’ 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


59 


one.  of  which  is  to  me  .inexpressibly  touching.  He 
then  repeated  these  also  from  memory.  The  verse 
he  referred  to  occurs  in  about  the  middle  of  the 
poem,  and  is  this  : — 

“ The  mossy  marbles  rest 
On  the  lips  that  he  has  pressed 
In  their  bloom; 

And  the  names  he  loved  to  hear 
Have  been  carved  for  many  a year 
On  the  tomb.” 

As  he  finished  this  verse,  he  said,  in  his  emphatic 
way,  “ For  pure  pathos,  in  my  judgment,  there  is 
nothing  finer  than  those  six  lines  in  the  English 
language ! ” 

A day  or  two  afterward,  he  asked  me  to  accom- 
pany him  to  the  temporary  studio,  at  the  Treasury 
Department,  of  Mr.  Swayne,  the  sculptor,  who  was 
making  a bust  of  him.  While  he  was  sitting,  it 
occurred  to  me  to  improve  the  opportunity  to  secure 
the  promised  poem.  Upon  mentioning  the  subject, 
the  sculptor  surprised  me  by  saying  that  he  had  at  his 
home,  in  Philadelphia,  a printed  copy  of  the  verses, 
taken  from  a newspaper  some  years  previous.  The 
President  inquired  if  they  were  published  in  an  - 
connection  with  his  name.  Mr.  Swayne  said  that 
they  purported  to  have  been  written  “ by  Abraham 
Lincoln.”  “I  have  heard  of  that  before,  and  that 
is  why  I asked,”  returned  the  President.  “ But 
there  is  no  truth  in  it.  The  poem  -was  first  shown 
to  me  by  a young  man  named  ‘ Jason  Duncan,’ 
many  years  ago.” 


60  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


The  sculptor  was  using  for  a studio  the  of* 
fice  of  the  Solicitor  of  the  Treasury  Department, 
an  irregular  room,  packed  nearly  full  of  law  books. 
Seating  myself,  I believe,  upon  a pile  of  these  at  Mr. 
Lincoln’s  feet,  he  kindly  repeated  the  lines,  which  I 
vyrote  down,  one  by  one,  as  they  fell  from  his  lips  : — 

OH!  WHY  SHOULD  THE  SPIRIT  OF  MORTAL  BE 
PROUD?  * 

Oh ! why  should  the  spirit  of  mortal  be  proud  ? 

Like  a swift-fleeting  meteor,  a fast-flying  cloud, 

A flash  of  the  lightning,  a break  of  the  wave, 

He  passeth  from  life  to  his  rest  in  the  grave. 

The  leaves  of  the  oak  and  the  willow  shall  fade, 

Be  scattered  around,  and  together  be  laid; 

And  the  young  and  the  old,  and  the  low  and  the  high, 

Shall  moulder  to  dust,  and  together  shall  lie. 

The  infant  a mother  attended  and  loved; 

The  mother  that  infant’s  affection  who  proved ; 

The  husband,  that  mother  and  infant  who  blest,  — 

Each,  all,  are  away  to  their  dwellings  of  . rest. 

[The  maid  on  whose  cheek,  on  whose  brow,  in  whose  eye, 
Shone  beauty  and  pleasure,  — her  triumphs  are  by; 

And  the  memory  of  those  who  loved  her  and  praised, 

Are  alike  from  the  minds  of  the  living  erased.] 

The  hand  of  the  king  that  the  sceptre  hath  borne, 

The  brow  of  the  priest  that  the  mitre  hath  worn, 

The  eye  of  the  sage,  and  the  heart  of  the  brave, 

Are  hidden  and  lost  in  the  depths  of  the  grave. 

* The  authorship  of  this  poem  has  been  made  known  since  this 
publication  in  the  Evening  Post.  It  was  written  by  William  Knox, 
a young  Scotchman,  a contemporary  of  Sir  Walter  Scott.  He  died 
in  Edinburgh,  in  1825,  at  the  age  of  3G. 

The  two  verses  in  brackets  were  not  repeated  by  Mr.  Lincoln, 
but  belong  to  the  original  poem. 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


61 


Thu  peasant,  whose  lot  was  to  sow  and  to  reap, 

The  herdsman,  who  climbed  with  his  goats  up  the  steep, 
The  beggar,  who  wandered  in  search  of  his  bread, 

Have  faded  away  like  the  grass  that  we  tread. 

[The  saint,  who  enjoyed  the  communion  of  Heaven, 
The-sinner,  who  dared  to  remain  unforgiven, 

The  wise  and  the  foolish,  the  guilty  and  just, 

Have  quietly  mingled  their  bones  in  the  dust.] 

So  the  multitude  gojs  — like  the  flower  or  the  weed 
That  withers  away  to  let  others  succeed; 

So  the  multitude  comes  — even  those  we  behold, 

To  repeat  every  tale  that  has  often  been  told. 

For  we  are  the  same  our  fathers  have  been; 

We  see  the  same  sights  our  fathers  have  seen ; 

We  drink  the  same  stream,  we  view  the  same  suit, 

And  run  the  same  course  our  fathers  have  run. 

The  thoughts  we  are  thinking,  our  fathers  would  think; 
From  the  death  we  are  shrinking,  our  fathers  w'ould  shrink: 
To  the  life  we  are  clinging,  they  also  would  cling;  — 

But  it  speeds  from  us  all  like  a bird  on  the  wing. 

They  loved  — but  the  story  we  cannot  unfold; 

They  scorned  — but  the  heart  of  the  haughty  is  cold; 

They  grieved  — but  no  wail  from  their  slumber  will  come; 
They  joyed  — but  the  tongue  of  their  gladness  is  dumb. 

They  died  — ay,  they  died ; — we  things  that  are  now, 

That  walk  on  the  turf  that  lies  over  their  brow, 

And  make  in  their  dwellings  a transient  abode, 

Meet  the  things  that  they  met  on  their  pilgrimage  road. 

Yea!  hope  and  despondency,  pleasure  and  pain, 

Are  mingled  together  in  sunshine  and  rain; 

And  the  smile  and  the  tear,  the  song  and  the  dirge, 

Still  follow  each  other,  like  surge  upon  surge. 

’T  is  the  wink  of  an  eye  — ’t  is  the  draught  of  a breath  — 
From  the  blossom  of  health  to  the  paleness  of  death, 

From  the  gilded  saloon  to  the  bier  and  the  shroud:  — 

Oh!  why  should  the  spirit  of  mortal  be  proud? 


02 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


XX. 

On  the  way  to  the  sculptor’s  studio  a conversa- 
tion occurred  of  much  significance,  in  view  of  the 
terrible  tragedy  so  soon  to  paralyze  every  loyal 
heart  in  the  nation.  A late  number  of  the  New 
York  “Tribune”  had  contained  an  account  from  a 
correspondent  within  the  Rebel'  lines,  of  an  elabo- 

/rate  conspiracy,  matured  in  Richmond,  to  abduct, 
or  assassinate  — if  the  first  was  not  found  practi- 
cable — the  person  of  the  President.  A secret  or- 
ganization,-composed,  it  was  stated,  of  five  hun- 
dred or  a thousand  men,  had  solemnly  sworn  to 
accomplish  the  deed.  Mr.  Lincoln  had  not  seen 

\or  heard  of  this  account,  arid  at  his  request,  I gave 
him  the  details.  Upon  the  conclusion,  he  smiled 
incredulously,  and  said:  “ Well,  even  if  true,  I do 
not  see  what  the  Rebels  would  gain  by  killing  or 
getting  possession  of  me.  I am  but  a single  indi- 
vidual, and  it  would  not  help  their  cause  or  make 
the  least  difference  in  the  progress  of  the  war. 
Everything  would  go  right  on  just  the  same.  Soon 
after  I was  nominated  at  Chicago,  I began  to  re- 
ceive letters  threatening  my  life.  The  first  one  or 
two  made  me  a little  uncomfortable,  but  I came  at 
length  to  look  for  a regular  instalment  of  this  kind 
of  correspondence  in  every  week’s  mail,  and  up  to 
inauguration  day  I was  in  constant  receipt  of. such 
letters.  It  is  no  uncommon  thing  to  receive  them 
j now  ; but  they  have  ceased  to  give  me  any  appre- 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  f>?) 

Iiension.”  I expressed  some  surprise  at  this,  but 
he  replied  in  his  peculiar  wav,  “ Oh,  there  is 
nothing  like  getting  used  to  things  ! ” 

In  connection  with  tins,  Mr.  Noah  Brooks,  — who 
was  to  have  been  Mr.  Nicolay’s  successor  as  private 
secretary  to  the  President,  — and  Colonel  Charles 
G.  Halpine,  of  New  York,  have  referred  to  personal 
conversations  of  exceeding  interest,  Nhich  I tran- 
scribe. 

In  an  article  contributed  to  “ Harper’s  Maga- 
zine,” soon  after  the  assassination,  Mr.  Brooks 
says  : — 

“ The  simple  habits  of  Mr.  Lincoln  were  so  well 
known  that  it  is  a subject  for  surprise  that  watchful 
and  malignant  treason  did  not  sooner  take  that 
precious  life  which  he  seemed  to  hold  so  lightly. 
He  had  an  almost  morbid  dislike  for  an  escort,  or 
guide,  and  daily  exposed  himself  to  the  deadly  aim 
of  an  assassin.  One  summer  morning,  passing  by 
the  White  House  at  an  early  hour,  I saw  the  Pres- 
ident standing  at  the  gateway,  looking  anxiously 
down  the  street ; and,  in  reply  to  a salutation,  he 
said,  ‘Good  morning,  good  morning!  lam  look- 
ing for  a newsboy ; when  you  get  to  that  corner, 
I wish  you  would  start  one  up  this  way.’  In  reply 
to  the  remonstrances  of  friends,  who  were  afraid  of 
his  constant  exposure  to  danger,  he  had  but  one 
answer:  ‘If  they  kill  me,  the  next  man  will  be 
just  as  bad  for  them  ; and  in  a country  like  this, 
where  our  habits  are  simple,  and  must  be,  assassi- 


64 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


nation  is  always  possible,  and  will  come,  if  they  are 
determined  upon  it.’  ” 

A cavalry  guard  was  once  placed  at  the  gates 
of  the  White  House  for  a while,  and  he  said,  pri- 
vately, that  “ he  worried  until  he  got  rid  of  it.” 
While  the  President’s  family  were  at  their  sum- 
mer-house, near  Washington,  he  rode  into  town 
of  a morning’,  or  out  at  night,  attended  by  a 
mounted  escort ; but  if  he  returned  to  town  for  a 
while  after  dark,  he  rode  in  unguarded,  and  often 
alone,  in  his  open  carriage.  On  more  than  one 
occasion  the  writer  has  gone  through  the  streets  of 
Washington  at  a late  hour  of  the  night  with  the 
President,  without  escort,  or  even  the  company  of 
a servant,  walking  all  of  the  way,  going  and  re- 
turning. 

Considering  the  many  open  and  secret  threats 
to  take  his  life,  it  is  not  surprising  that  Mr.  Lin- 
coln had  many  thoughts  about  his  coming  to  a 
sudden  and  violent  end.  He  once  said  that  he  felt 
the  force  of  the  expression,  “ To  take  one’s  life  in 
his  hand  ; ” but  that  he  would  not  like  to  face  death 
suddenly.  He  said  that  he  thought  himself  a great 
coward  physically,  and  was  sure  that  he  would 
make  a poor  soldier,  for,  unless  there  was  something 
inspiriting  in  the  excitement  of  a battle,  he  was 
sure  that  he  would  drop  his  gun  and  run,  at  the 
first  symptom  of  danger.  That  was  said  sportively, 
and  he  added,  “ Moral  cowardice  is  something 
which  I think  I never  had.” 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


65 


Colonel  Halpine,  while  serving  as  a member  of 
General  Halleck’^  staff,  had  frequently  to  wait  upon 
the  President,  both  during  official  hours  and  at 
other  times.  On  one  of  these  occasions,  Mr.  Lin- 
coln concluded  some  interesting  remarks  with  these 
words:  ‘'It  would  never  do  for  a President  to 
have  guards  with  drawn  sabres  at  his  door,  as  if 
he  fancied  he  were,  or  were  trying  to  be,  or  Averc 
assuming  to  be,  an  emperor.” 

“ This  expression,”  writes  Colonel  Halpine, 
“called  my  attention  afresh  to  what  I had  remarked 
to  myself  almost  every  time  I entered  the  White 
House,  and  to  which  I had  very  frequently  called  the 
attention  both  of  Major  Hay  and  General  Halleck  — 
the  utterly  unprotected  condition  of  the  President’s 
person,  and  the  fact  that  any  assassin  or  maniac, 
seeking  his  life,  could  enter  his  presence  without 
the  interference  of  a single  armed  man  to  hold  him 
back.  The  entrance-doors,  and  all  doors  on  the 
official  side  of  the  building,  were  open  at  all  hours 
of  the  day,  and  very  late  into  the  evening  ; and  I 
have  many  times  entered  the  mansion,  and  walked 
up  to  the  rooms  of  the  two  private  secretaries,  as 
late  as  nine  or  ten  o’clock  at  niojit,  without  seeincr 
or  being  challenged  by  a single  soul.  There  were, 
indeed,  two  attendants,  — one  for  the  outer  door, 
and  the  other  for  the  door  of  the  official  cham- 
oers  ; but  these  — thinking,  I suppose,  that  none 
would  call  after  office  hours  save  persons  who  were 
personally  acquainted,  or  had  the  right  of  official  en* 

5 


G6 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


try  — were,  not  unfrequently,  somewhat  remiss  in 
their  duties. 

“To  this  fact  I now  ventured  to  call  the  Presi- 
dent’s attention,  saying  that  to  me  — perhaps  from 
my  European  education  — it  appeared  a deliberate 
courting  of  danger,  even  if  the  country  were  in  a 
state  of  the  profoundest  peace,  for  the  person  at  the 
head  of  the  nation  to  remain  so  unprotected. 

“ ‘ There  are  two  dangers,’  I wound  up  by  say- 
ing ; ‘ the  danger  of  deliberate  political  assassina- 
tion, and  the  mere  brute  violence  of  insanity.’ 

“ Mr.  Lincoln  heard  me  through  with  a smile, 
his  hands  locked  across  his  knees,  his  body  rock- 
ing back  and  forth,  — the  common  indication  that 
he  was  amused. 

“ ‘ Now,  as  to  political  assassination,’  he  said, 
‘ do  you  think  the  Richmond  people  would  like  to 
have  Hannibal  Hamlin  here  any  better  than  my- 
self? In  that  one  alternative,  I have  an  insurance 
on  my  life  worth  half  the  prairie  land  of  Illinois. 
And  beside,’  — this  more  gravely,  — ‘ if  there  were 
such  a plot,  and  they  wanted  to  get  at  me,  no  vigi- 
lance could  keep  them  out.  We  are  so  mixed  up 
in  our  affairs,  that  — no  matter  what  the  system 
established  — a conspiracy  to  assassinate,  if  such 
there  were,  could  easily  obtain  a pass  to  see  me  for 
any  one  or  more  of  its  instruments. 

“‘To  betray  fear  of  this,  by  placing  guards  or 
so  forth,  would  only  be  to  put  the  idea  into  theii 
heads,  and  perhaps  lead  to  the  very  result  it  was 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


67 


intended  to  prevent.  As  to  the  crazy  folks,  Major, 
why  I must  only  take  my  chances,  — the  worst 
crazy  people  at  present,  I fear,  being  some  of  my 
own  too  zealous  adherents.  That  there  may  be  such 
dangers  as  you  and  many  others  have  suggested  to 
me,  is  quite  possible  ; but  I guess  it  would  n’t  im- 
prove things  any  to  publish  that  we  were  afraid  of 
them  in  advance.’ 

“ Upon  another  occasion  I remember  his  coming 
over  one  evening  after  dinner,  to  General  Halleck’s 
private  quarters,  to  protest — half  jocularly,  half  in 
earnest  — against  a small  detachment  of  cavalry 
which  had  been  detailed  without  his  request,  and 
partly  against  his  will,  by  the  lamented  General 
Wadsworth,  as  a guard  for  his  carriage  in  going  to 
and  returning  from  the  Soldiers’  Home.  The  bur- 
den of  his  complaint  was  that  he  and  Mrs.  Lincoln 
‘ could  n’t  hear  themselves  talk,’  for  the  clatter  of 
their  sabres  and  spurs  ; and  that,  as  many  of  them 
appeared  new  hands  and  very  awkward,  he  was 
more  afraid  of  being  shot  by  the  accidental  dis- 
charge of  one  of  their  carbines  or  revolvers,  than 
of  any  attempt  upon  his  life  or  for  his  capture  by 
the  roving  squads  of  Jeb  Stuart’s  cavalry,  then 
hovering  all  round  the  exterior  works  of  the  city.” 


XXI. 

Judge  Bates,  the  Attorney- General,  was  one  day 
fery  severe  upon  the  modem  'deal  school  of 


68  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


art,  as  applied  to  historic  characters  and  events. 
He  instanced  in  sculpture, •Greenough’s  “Wash- 
ington,” in  the  Capitol  grounds,  which,  he  said,  was 
a very  good  illustration  of  the  heathen  idea  of  Ju- 
piter Tonans,  but  was  the  farthest  possible  remove 
from  any  American’s  conception  of  the  Father  of 
his  Country.  Powell’s  painting  in  the  Rotunda, 
“ De  Soto  discovering  the  Mississippi,”  and  Mills’s 
equestrian  statue  of  Jackson,  in  front  of  the  Presi- 
dent’s House,  shared  in  his.  sarcastic  condemnation. 
He  quoted  from  an  old  English  poet  — Creech,  I 
think  he  said  — with  much  unction : — 

“ Whatever  contradicts  my  sense 
1 hate  to  see,  and  can  but  disbelieve.” 

“ Genius  and  talent,”  said  he,  on  another  occa- 
sion, “are  rarely  found  combined  in  one  individ- 
ual.” I requested  his  definition  of  the  distinction. 
“ Genius,”  he  replied,  “ conceives ; talent  exe- 
cutes.” 

Referring  to  Mr.  Lincoln’s  never-failing  fund 
of  anecdote,  he  remarked,  “ The  character  of  the 
President’s  mind  is  such  that  his  thought  habitually 
takes  on  this  form  of  illustration,  by  which  the 
point  he  wishes  to  enforce  is  invariably  brought 
home  with  a strength  and  clearness  impossible  in 
hours  of  abstract  argument.  Mr.  Lincoln,”  he 
added,  “ comes  very  near  being  a perfect  man, 
according  to  my  ideal  of  manhood.  He  lacks  but 
one  thing.”  Looking  up  from  my  palette,  I asked, 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  69 

musingly,  if  this  was  official  dignity  as  President. 
’‘No,”  replied  Judge  Cates,  “ that  is  of  little  con- 
sequence. His  deficiency,  is  in  the  element  of  will. 
I have  sometimes  told  him,  for  instance,  that  he  was 
unfit  to  be  intrusted  with  the  pardoning  power. 
Why,  if  a man  comes  to  him  with  a touching  story, 
his  judgment  is  almost  certain  to  be  affected  by  it. 
Should  the  applicant  be  a woman , a wife,  a mother, 
or  a sister,  — in  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  her  tears,  if 
nothing  else,  are  sure  to  prevail.” 


XXII. 

Mr.  Seward,  whose  conversation  much  of  the 
time,  while  sitting,  was  like  that  of  a man  solil- 
oquizing aloud,  told  me  on  one  occasion  two  or 
three  eood  stories.  Referrum  to  the  numerous 
portraits  painted  of  him  at  different  times,  he  said, 
that  of  all  artists  whom  he  had  known,  Henry  In- 
man was  most  rapid  in  execution.  For  the  full- 
length  portrait,  painted  while  he  was  Governor, 
for  the  city  of  New  York,  Inman  required  but  two 
or  three  sittings  of  an  hour  each,  with  an  addi- 
tional quarter  of  an  hour  for  the  standing  figure. 
This  drew  out  something  from  me  in  relation  to 
Elliott’s  whole  length  of  him,  painted  at  the 
same  period.  “ My  experience  with  Elliott,”  he 
rejoined,  “ who  was  then  in  the  beginning  of  his 
career,  was  a very  different  affair.  He  seemed  to 
think  me  like  Governor  Crittenden’s  hen.”  Laugh- 


70  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


ing  at  the  recollection,  he  lighted  a cigar,  and  con- 
tinued : “ One  day  the  Governor  was  engaged  with 
his  Council,  when  his  little  boy,  of  five  or  six  years, 
came  into  the  chamber,  and  said,  ‘ Father,  the 
black  hen  is  setting .’  4 Go  away,  my  son,’  re 

turned  the  Governor : 4 1 am  very  busy.’  The  child 
disappeared,  but  soon  returned,  and  putting  his  head 
in  at  the  door,  repeated  the  information.  4 Well, 
well,’  replied  the  Governor,  ‘you  must  not  bother 
me  now ; let  her  set.’  The  door  was  shut, 
but  soon  afterward  again  cautiously  opened,  in  the 
midst  of  a profound  discussion,  and  the  words 
rang  out,  4 But  father,  she  is  setting  on  one 
egg  ! ’ The  Governor  turned  around,  and  looking 
into  the  dilated  eyes  of  the  excited  little  fellow,  re- 
plied dryly,  4 Well,  my  son,  I think  we  will  let  her 
set.  Her  time  is  not  very  precious  ! ’ ” 

Another  was  of  General  R , formerly  of  the 

New  York  State  Senate.  At  the  regular  session 
one  day,  the  General  gave  notice  that  the  following 
day  he  would  introduce  a bill  providing  a ther- 
mometer for  every  institution  of  learning  in  the 
State.  The  next  morning  the  clerk  was  in  his 
private  office  at  the  usual  hour,  reading  the  bills 
aloud,  and  placing  them  on  file  for  the  business  of 
the  day.  A gentleman  who  prided  himself  upon 
his  classical  attainments  was  present,  and,  as  the 

clerk  read  the  notice  given  by  Senator  R , he 

was  informed  that  a word  borrowed  from  another 
language  should,  according  to  the  rale,  always  be 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  71 

given  its  native  pronunciation.  The  original  of 
thermometer,  the  gentleman  said,  was  a French 
term,  which  should  be  pronounced  accordingly.  By 
a process  of  reasoning  the  clerk  was  convinced  ; 
and  when  the  bill  was  announced,  he  read  it  accord- 

ing  to  instructions.  General  R was  observed 

to  look  up  from  writing,  and  fix  his  eye  upon  the 
clerk.  The  second  reading  passed,  and  he  rose  to 
his  feet,  bending  forward  upon  his  desk,  listen- 
ing intently,  his  eyebrows  gradually ' contracting. 

“ Third  reading.  Senator  R gave  notice  of  a 

bill  to  provide  a thermometre  for  every  institution 
of  learning  in  the  State.”  By  this  time  the  atten- 
tion of  the  entire  house  was  drawn  to  the  General. 
“ Ther — what?”  he  demanded,  in  a stentorian 
tone.  “ Thermometre ,”  quietly  responded  the  con- 
fident clerk.  “ Thermometer  ! thermometer  ! you 

fool ; don’t  you  know  what  a thermometer 

is  ? ” thundered  the  enraged  Senator,  amid  roars  of 
laughter. 

Speaking  once  of  Henry  Clay  and  Daniel  Web- 
ster, Mr.  Seward  remarked,  that,  as  statesmen, 
they  could  not  well  be  compared  ; “ they  were  no 
more  alike  than  a Grecian  temple  and  a Gothic 
church.” 

I was  much  interested  in  an  opinion  he  once  ex- 
pressed of  equestrian  statues.  He  said  a grand 
character  should  never  be  represented  in  this  form. 
It  was  ignoring  the  divine  in  human  nature  to  thus 
link  man  with  an  .animal,  and  seemed  to  him  a 


72  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


degradation  of  true  art.  “ Bucephalus,”  in  marble 
or  bronze  was  well  enough  by  itself.  Place  “Alex- 
ander” upon  his  back,  and  though  the  animal  gained 
a degree  of  interest,  the  man  lost  immeasurably. 


XXIII. 

Soon  after  the  chalk  sketch  of  my  conception  had 
been  placed  upon  the  canvas,  I attended  one  of  the 
receptions  given  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy 
and  Mrs.  Welles.  While  standing  as  I thought 
unobserved,  near  a corner  of  the  room,  Mr.  Sew- 
ard approached  me,  and  in  a manner  of  more  than 
usual  warmth,  said,  “ I told  the  President  the 
other  day  that  you  were  painting  your  picture  upon 
a false  presumption.”  Looking  at  him  in  some  sur- 
prise, I inquired  his  meaning.  “ Oh,”  he  rejoined, 
“you  appear  to  think  in  common  with  many  other 
foolish  people,  that  the  great  business  of  this  Ad- 
ministration is  the  destruction  of  slavery.  Now 
allow  me  to  say  you  are  much  mistaken.  Slavery 
was  killed  years  ago.  Its  death  knell  was  tolled 
when  Abraham  Lincoln  was  elected  President. 
The  work  of  this  Administration  is  the  suppression 
of  the  Rebellion  and  the  preservation  of  the  Union. 
Abolitionists,  like  the  different  religious  sects,  have 
been  chasing  one  idea,  until  they  have  come  to  be- 
lieve that  their  horizon  absolutely  bounds  the  world.- 
Slavery  has  been  in  fact  but  an  incident  in  the 
history  of  the  nation,  inevitably  bound  to  perish  in 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


73 


the  progress  of  intelligence.  Future  generations 
will  scarcely  credit  the  record  that  such  an  insti- 
tution ever  existed  here;  or  existing,  that  it  ever 
lived  a day  under  such  a government.  But  sup- 
pose, for  one  moment,  the  Republic  destroyed. 
With  it  is  bound  up  not  alone  the  destiny  of  a race, 
but  the  best  hopes  of  all  mankind.  With  its  over- 
throw the  sun  of  liberty,  like  the  Hebrew  dial, 
would  be  set  back  indefinitely.  The  magni- 
tude of  such  a calamity  is  beyond  our  calculation. 
The  salvation  of  the  nation  is,  then,  of  vastly  more 
consequence  than  the  destruction  of  slavery.  Had 
you  consulted  me  for  a subject  to  paint,  I should 
not  have  given  you  the  Cabinet  Council  on  Eman- 
cipation, but  the  meeting  which  took  place  when 
the  news  came  of  the  attack  upon  Sumter,  when 
the  first  measures  were  organized  for  the  restoration 
of  the  national  authority.  That  was  the  crisis  in 
the  history  of  this  Administration  — not  the  issue  of 
the  Emancipation  Proclamation.  If  I am  to  be  re- 
membered by  posterity,”  he  concluded,  with  much 
excitement  of  manner,  “ let  it  not  be  as  having 
loved  predominantly  white  men  or  black  men,  but 
as  one  who  loved  his  country.” 

Assenting  to  much  that  he  had  said,  I replied, 
that  with  all  deference,  I could  not  accept  his 
conclusions  rewarding  slavery.  Although  more 
than  a year  had  passed  since  the  issue  of  the  pro- 
clamation, the  Confederacy,  founded  upon  it,  was 
yet  powerful  enough  to  threaten  the  destruction  of 


74  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

• 

the  nation,  though,  for  my  own  part,  I did  not 
question  the  result  of  the  conflict.  I looked  upon 
the  Declaration  of  Independence  as  the  assertion 
that  all  men  were  created  free.  Mr.  Lincoln’s 
Emancipation  Proclamation  was  the  demonstration 
of  this  great  truth.  Without  slavery  the  Re- 
public would  have  been  in  no  danger.  That  was 
the  canker-worm  gnawing  away  the  nation’s  life. 
Not  until  the  Administration  was  ready  to  strike  at 
the  root  and  cause  of  the  Rebellion,  was  there  any 
reason  to  hope  for  the  success  of  the  national  cause. 
Without  this  step,  however  grand  or  high  the 
conception  in  the  minds  of  men  of  the  Republic, 
in  all  probability  it  would  have  perished.  There- 
fore, in  my  judgment,  no  single  act  of  the  Ad- 
ministration could  for  one  moment  be  compared 
with  that  of  emancipation.  Granting  the  poten- 
tial view,  the  proclamation  was  necessary,  as  the 
sign  and  seal  of  the  consummation. 

“Well,”  replied  Mr.  Seward,  “you  think  so, 
and  this  generation  may  agree  with  you ; but  pos- 
terity will  hold  a different  opinion.” 

Of  course  this  conversation  could  not  but  attract 
the  attention  of  all  in  the  immediate  vicinity.  A 
few  moments  later,  Senator  Morgan,  referring  to 
the  Secretary’s  assertion  that  slavery  was  dead  when 
the  Rebellion  broke  out,  told  me  this  character- 
istic incident  of  the  President,  showing  that  he,  at 
least,  did  not  hold  that  view.  Soon  after  the  issue 
of  the  proclamation,  having  official  business,  as  Gov  - 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


7b 


ernor  of  New  York,  which  called  him  to  Washing- 
ton, Mr.  Lincoln  remarked  to  him,  speaking  of  his 
action  upon  this  subject,  “ We  are  a good  deal  like 
whalers  who  have  been  long  on  a chase.  At  last 
we  have  got  our  harpoon  fairly  into  the  monster ; 
but  we  must  now  look  how  we  steer,  or  with  one 
flop  of  his  tail,  he  will  yet  send  us  all  into 
eternity ! ” 

XXIY. 

Mr.  George  Thompson,  the  English  anti-slavery 
orator,  delivered  an  address  in  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives, to  a large  audience,  April  6th,  1864. 
Among  the  distinguished  persons  present  was  Pres- 
ident Lincoln,  who  was  greatly  interested.  The 
following  morning,  Mr.  Thompson  and  party,  con- 
sisting of  Rev.  John  Pierpont,  Oliver  Johnson, 
formerly  President  of  the  Anti-Slavery  Society  of 
New  York,  and  the  Hon.  Lewis  Clephane,  of  Wash- 
ington, called  at  the  White  House.  The  President 
was  alone  when  their  names  were  announced,  with 
the  exception  of  myself.  Dropping  all  business, 
he  ordered  the  party  to  be  immediately  admitted. 
Greeting  them  very  cordially,  the  gentlemen  took 
seats,  and  Mr.  Thompson  commenced  conversation 
by  referring  to  the  condition  of  public  sentiment  in 
England  in  regard  to  the  great  conflict  the  nation 
was  passing  through.  He  said  the  aristocracy  and 
the  “ money  interest  ” were  desirous  of  seeing  the 
Union  broken  up,  but  that  the  great  heart  of  the 


76  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

masses  beat  in  sympathy  with  the  North.  They 
instinctively  felt  that  the  cause  of  liberty  was  bound 
up  with  our  success  in  putting  down  the  Rebellion, 
and  the  struggle  was  being  watched  with  the  deep- 
est anxiety. 

Mr.  Lincoln  thereupon  said : “ Mr.  Thompson, 
the  people  of  Great  Britain,  and  of  other  foreign 
governments,  were  in'  one  great  error  in  reference 
to  this  conflict.  They  seemed  to  think  that,  the 
moment  I was  President,  I had  the  power  to  abol- 
ish slaverv,  forgetting  that,  before  I could  have 
any  power  whatever,  I had  to  take  the  oath  to  sup- 
port the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  ex- 
ecute the  laws  as  I found  them.  When  the  Rebel- 
lion broke  out,  my  duty  did  not  admit  of  a question. 
That  was,  first,  by  all  strictly  lawful  means  to  en- 
deavor to  maintain  the  integrity  of  the  government. 
I did  not  consider  that  I had  a right  to  touch  the 
‘ State  ’ institution  of  ‘ Slavery  ’ until  all  other  meas- 
ures for  restoring  the  Union  had  failed.  The  para- 
mount idea  of  the  constitution  is  the  preservation  of 
the  Union.  It  may  not  be  specified  in  so  many 
words,  but  that  this  was  the  idea  of  its  founders  is 
evident  ; for,  without  the  Union,  the  constitution 
would  be  worthless.  It  seems  clear,  then,  that  in 
t.ie  last  extremity,  if  any  local  institution  threatened 
the  existence  of  the  Union,  the  Executive  could  not 
hesitate  as  to  his  duty.  In  our  case,  the  moment 
came  when  I felt  that  slavery  must  die  that  the 
nation  might  live ! I have  sometimes  used  the 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


77 


illustration  m this  connection  of  a man  with  a dis 
eased  limb,  and  his  surgeon.  So  long  as  there  is  a 
chance  of  the  patient’s  restoration,  the  surgeon  is 
solemnly  bound  to  try  to  save  both  life  and  limb ; 
but  when  the  crisis  comes,  and  the  limb  must  be 
sacrificed  as  the  only  chance  of  saving  the  life,  no 
honest  man  will  hesitate. 

“ Many  of  my  strongest  supporters  urged  Eman- 
cipation before  I thought  it  indispensable,  and,  I 
may  say,  before  I thought  the  country  ready  for  it. 
It  is  my  conviction  that,  had  the  proclamation  been 
issued  even  six  months  earlier  than  it  was,  public 
sentiment  would  not  have  sustained  it.  Just  so, 
as  to  the  subsequent  action  in  reference  to  enlist- 
ing blacks  in  the  Border  States.  The  step,  taken 
sooner,  could  not,  in  my  judgment,  have  been  car- 
ried out.  A man  watches  his  pear-tree  day  after 
day,  impatient  for  the  ripening  of  the  fruit.  Let 
him  attempt  to  force  the  process,  and  he  may  spoil 
both  fruit  and  tree.  But  let  him  patiently  wait,  and 
the  ripe  pear  at  length  falls  into  his  lap  ! We  have 
seen  this  great  revolution  in  public  sentiment  slowly 
but  surely  progressing,  so  that,  when  final  action 
came,  the  opposition  was  not  strong  enough  to  de- 
feat the  purpose.  I can  now  solemnly  assert,'*  he 
concluded,  “ that  I have  a clear  conscience  in  regard 
to  my  action  on  this  momentous  question.  I have 
done  what  no  man  could  have  helped  doing,  stand- 
>ng  in  mv  place.” 

Oliver  Johnson,  speaking,  as  he  said,  for  the  old 


78 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


Anti-Slavery  party,  assured  the  President  that  they 
had  fully  appreciated  the  difficulties  and  embar- 
rassments of  his  position  ; but  when  they  realized 
the  importance  of  the  grand  issue,  and  observed  the 
conflicting  influences  that  were  surging  around  him, 
they  were  in  an  agony  of  anxiety  lest  he  should 
somehow  be  led  to  take  a false  position.  If,  in  the 
months  preceding  the  issue  of  the  Emancipation 
Proclamation,  they  had  seemed  impatient  and  dis- 
trustful, it  was  because  their  knowledge  of  his  char- 
acter had  not  been  sufficient  to  assure  them  that  he 
would  be  able  to  stand  up  manfully  against  the 
opposing  current.  He  thanked  God  that  the  re- 
sult had  shown  that  we  had  a President  who  was 
equal  to  the  emergency  ; and  for  his  part  he  was 
willing  to  sink  all  minor  issues  in  the  grand  con- 
summation  he  believed  then  in  sight ! 

A characteristic  incident  occurred  toward  the 
close  of  the  interview.  When  the  President  ceased 
speaking,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pierpont,  impressed  with 
his  earnestness,  turned  to  Mr.  Thompson,  and  re- 
peated a Latin  quotation  from  the  classics.  Mr. 
Lincoln,  leaning  forward  in  his  chair,  looked  from 
one  to  the  other  inquiringly,  and  then  remarked, 
with  a smile,  “ Which , I suppose  you  ai’e  both 
aware,  I do  not  understand.” 

As  the  party  rose  to  take  leave,  the  President  re- 
marked, motioning  toward  me,  “ We  have  a young 
man  here  who  is  painting  a picture  down-stairs, 
which  I should  be  glad  to  have  you  see.”  The  gen- 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


79 


tleweti  expressed  their  acknowledgments  of  the 
courtesy,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  led  the  way  by  the 
private  staircase  to  the  state  dining-room.  In 
the  passage  through  the  hall  he  jocularly  remarked 
to  Mr.  Thompson,  “ Your  folks  made  -rather  sad 
w'ork  of  this  mansion  when  they  came  up  the  Po- 
tomac in  1812.  Nothing  wras  left  of  it  but  the 
bare  walls.”  I do  not  remember  the  reply  t;  this  * 
sally,  save  that  it  was  given  and  received  in  good 
part.  Briefly  going  over  the  portraiture  and  com- 
position of  the  picture,  then  in  too  early  a stage  for 
criticism,  Mr.  Lincoln  presently  excused  himself, 
and  returned  to  his  duties.  And  thus  ended  an 
interview  doubtless  indelibly  stamped  upon  the 
memory  of  each  individual  privileged  in  sharing  it. 

Upon  referring  to  the  date  of  the  “Hodges”  let- 
ter, it  will  be  seen  that  it  was  written  April  4th,  only 
three  days  before  the  visit  of  Mr.  Thompson  and 
party.  The  coincidence  of  thought  and  expression 
in  that  statement,  and  the  President’s  conversation 
on  this  occasion,  are  noticeable ; and  are  explained  by 
the  fact,  that,  with  the  language  of  that  letter  still 
fresl  in  his  mind,  he  very  naturally  fell  into  a similar 
vein  of  illustration. 


XXV. 


b”  - \ 


Dr.  Holland,  in  his  “ Life  of  Abraham  Lincoln, 

I regret  to  observe,  has  thought  it  worth  while  to 
notice  the_  reports,  which  in  one  way  and  another 
have  obtained  circulation,  that  the  President  habit- 


80 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


uallv  indulged,  in  ordinary  conversation,  in  a class 
of  objectionable  stories.  The  biographer,  it  is  true, 
attempts  to  palliate  this,  on  the  ground  that  it  was 
no  innate,  love  of  impurity  which  prompted  such 
relations,  but  a keen  relish  for  wit,  in  any  form, 
the  lack  of  refining  influences  in  early  Iile,  and 
his  experience  as  a lawyer,  which  necessarily  in- 
duced professional  familiarity  with  the  foulest  phases 
of  human  nature.  The  fault  is  a common  one  with 
many  men  of  otherwise  unblemished  reputation,  and 
cannot  be  too  severely  reprehended.  The  sooner, 
however,  such  things  can  be  forgotten,  of  neighbor, 
friend,  or  President,  the  better.'  Weaknesses  and 
blemishes  are  inseparable  from  common  humanity 
in  the  present  stage  of  its  development;  and  though, 
like  the  spots  on  the  sun,  they  may  serve  to  inspire 
in  us  a feeling  of  kindred,  — let  the  orb  once  set, 
never  again  to  rise  on  the  world,  and  he  who  should 
remember  the  trifling  defects  in  the  universal  loss 
would  certainly  be  considered,  if  not  captious,  at 
least  a most  inopportune  critic. 

Mr.  Lincoln,  I am  convinced,  has  been  greatly 
wronged  in  this  .respect.  Every  foul-mouthed  man 
in  the  country  gave  currency  to  the  slime  and  filth 
of  his  own  imagination  by  attributing  it  to  the 
President.  It  is  but  simple  justice  to  his  memory 
that  I should  state,  that  during  the  entire  period  of 
my  stay  in  Washington,  after  witnessing  his  inter- 
course with  nearly  all  classes  of  men,  embracing 
governors,  senators,  members  of  Congress,  officers 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


81 


of  the  army,  and  intimate  friends,  I cannot  recol- 
lect to  have  heard  him  relate  a circumstance  to  any 
one  of  them,  which  would  have  been  out  of  place 
uttered  in  a ladies’  drawing-room.  And  this  testi- 
mony is  not  unsupported  by  that  of  others,  well 
entitled  to  consideration.  Dr.  Stone,  his  family 
physician,  came  in  one  day  to  see  my  studies. 
Sitting  in  front  of  that  of  the  President,  — with 
whom  he  did  not  sympathize  politically,  — he  re- 
marked, with  much  feeling,  “ It  is  the  province  of 
a physician  to  probe  deeply  the  interior  lives  of 
men  ; and  I affirm  that  Mr*.  Lincoln  is  the  purest 
hearted  man  with  whom  I ever  came  in  contact.”^ 
Secretary  Seward,  who  of  the  Cabinet  officers  was 
probably  most  intimate  with  the  President,  ex- 
pressed the  same  sentiment  in  still  stronger  lan- 
guage. He  once  said  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bellows 
“ Mr.  Lincoln  is  the  best  man  I ever  knew  ! ” 


XXVI. 

The  25th  of  April,  Burnside’s  command  marched 
through  Washington,  on  the  way  from  Annapolis, 
to  reinforce  the  army  of  the  Potomac.  The  Presi- 
dent reviewed  the  troops  from  the  top  of  the  east- 
ern portico  at  Willard’s  Hotel,  standing  with  un-^ 
covered  head  while  the  entire  thirty  thousand  men 
filed  through  Fourteenth  Street.  Of  course  the 
passage  of  so  large  a body  of  troops  through  the 
city  — presaging  as  it  did  the  opening  of  the  cam- 
6 


82 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


paign  — drew  out  a numerous  concourse  of  spec 
tators,  and  the  coining  movement  was  everywhere 
the  absorbing  topic  of  conversation.  Early  in  the 
evening.  Governor  Curtin,  of  Pennsylvania,  with  a 
friend,  came  into  the  President’s  office.  As  lie  sat 
down  he  referred  to  the  fine  appearance  of  Burn- 
side’s men;  saying,  with  much  emphasis,  “ Mr. 
President,  if  there  is  in  the  world  one  man  more 
than  another  worthy  of  profound  respect,  it  is  the 
volunteer  citizen  soldier.”  To  this  Mr.  Lincoln 
assented,  in  a quiet  way,  — the  peculiar  dreaminess 
of  expression  so  remarkable  at  times,  stealing  over 
his  face  as  his  mind  reverted  to  the  thousands  whose 
lives  had  been  so  freely  offered  upon  the  altar  of 
their  country,  and  the  myriad  homes  represented 
by  the  thronging  columns  of  the  day’s  review,  in  so 
many  of  which  there  was  henceforth  to  be  weary 
watching  and  waiting  for  footsteps  which  would 
return  no  more. 

I took  this  opportunity  to  get  at  the  truth  con- 
cerning a newspaper  story  which  went  the  rounds 
a year  or  two  previous,  purporting  to  be  an  ac- 
count of  a meeting  of  the  loyal  Governors  in 
Washington,  early  in  the  war.  It  was  stated  that 
the  President  laid  the  condition  of  the  country  be- 
fore such  a council,  convened  at  the  White  House, 
*and  anxiously  awaited  the  result.  An  oppressive 
silence  followed.  Curtin  was  represented  as  hav- 
ing been  standing,  looking  out  of  one  of  the  win- 
dows, drumming  unconsciously  upon  a pane  of  glass. 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


83 


Mr.  Lincoln,  at  length  addressing  him  personally, 
■ said:  “Andy,  what  is  Pennsylvania  going  to  do?  ” 
Turning  around,  Curtin  replied  : “ She  is  going  to 
send  twenty  thousand  men  to  start  with,  and  will 
double  it,  if  necessary  ! ” “ This  noble  response  ” 

[quoted  from  memory]  “ overwhelmed  the  Presi- 
dent, and  lifted  the  dead  weight  which  seemed  to 
have  paralyzed  all  present.” 

I repeated  this  account  substantially  as  here 
given  ; but  both  parties  smiled  and  shook  their 
heads.  “ It  is  a pity  to  spoil  so  good  a story,”  re- 
turned the  President,  “ but,  unfortunately,  there  is 
not  a word  of  truth  in  it.  I believe  the  only  con- 
vocation of  Governors  that  has  taken  place  during 
the  war,”  he  added,  looking  at  Curtin,  “ was  that 
at  Altoona  — was  it  not?” 

Subsequently  the  two  gentlemen  proposed  to 
visit  my  room,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  accompanied  them. 
Sitting:  down  under  the  chandelier  on  the  edge  of 
the  long  table,  which  ran  the  whole  length  of  the 
apartment,  swinging  back  and  forth  his  long  legs, 
passing  his  hand  occasionally  over  his  brow  and 
through  his  rough  hair  (his  appearance  and  man- 
ner come  back  to  me  most  vividly,  as  I write), 
he  listened  abstractedly  to  my  brief  explanation  of 
the  design  of  the  picture.  When  I ceased,  he 
took  up  the  record  in  his  own  way.  “ You  see, 
Curtin,”  said  he,  “ I was  brought  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  there  was  no  dodging  this  negro  question 
any  longer.  We  had  reached  the  point  where  it 


bi  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


seemed  that  we  must  avail  ourselves  of  this  ele- 
ment, or  in  all  probability  go  under.”  He  then 
went  over  the  circumstances  attending  the  step,  in 
much  the  same  language  he  had  used  upon  the 
occasion  of  my  first  interview  with  him.  Gov- 
ernor Curtin  remarked  that  the  impression  pre- 
vailed in  some  quarters  that  Secretary  Seward 
opposed  the  policy.  “ That  is  not  true,”  replied 
Mr.  Lincoln ; “ he  advised  postponement,  at  the 
first  meeting,  which  seemed  to  me  sound.  It  was 
Seward’s  persistence  which  resulted  in  the  insertion 
of  the  word  4 maintain,’  which  I feared  under  the 
circumstances  was  promising  more  than  it  was  quite 
probable  we  could  carry  out.” 

The  bill  empowering  the  Secretary  of  the  Treas- 
ury to  sell  the  surplus  gold  had  recently  passed, 
and  Mr.  Chase  was  then  in  New  York,  giving  his 
attention  personally  to  the  experiment.  Governor 
Curtin  referred  to  this,  saying,  “ I see  by  the  quo- 
tations that  Chase’s  movement  has  already  knocked 
gold  down  several  per  cent.”  This  gave  occasion 
for  the  strongest  expression  I ever  heard  fall  from 
the  lips  of  Mr.  Lincoln.  Knotting  his  face  in  the 
intensity  of  his  feeling,  he  said,  “ Curtin,  what  do 
you  think  of  those  fellows  in  Wall  Street,  who  are 

gambling  in  gold  at  such  a time  as  this  ? ” “ Tliev 

© © © *) 

are  a set  of  sharks,”  returned  Curtin.  “ For  my 
part,”  continued  the  President,  bringing  his  clinched 
hand  down  upon  the  table,  “ I wish  every  one  of 
them  had  his  devilish  head  shot  off!  ” 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


85 


XXVII. 

There  was  one  marked  element  of  Mr.  Lincoln’s 
rliaracter  admirably  expressed  by  -the  Hon.  Mr. 
Colfax,  in  his  oration  at  Chicago  upon  his  death  : 
“ When  his  judgment,  which  acted  slowly,  but 
which  was  almost  as  immovable  as  the  eternal  hills 
when  settled,  was  grasping  some  subject  of  im- 
portance, the  arguments  against  his  own  desires 
seemed  uppermost  in  his  mind,  and,  in  conversing 
upon  it,  he  would  present  those  arguments  to  see 
if  they  could  be  rebutted.” 

In  illustration  of  this,  it  is  only  necessary  to 
recall  the  fact  that  the  interview  between  himself 
and  the  Chicago  delegation  of  clergymen,  appointed 
to  urge  upon  him  the  issue  of  a proclamation  of 
emancipation,  took  place  September  13,  1862, 
more  than  a month  after  he  had  declared  to  the 
Cabinet  his  established  purpose  to  take  this  step. 
He  said  to  this  committee : “ I do  not  want  to  issue 
a document  that  the  whole  world  will  see  must 
necessarily  be  inoperative,  like  the  Pope’s  bull 
against  the  comet ! ” After  drawing  out  their 
views  upon  the  subject,  he  concluded  the  interview 
with  these  memorable  words ; — 

“Do  not  misunderstand  me,  because  I have  men- 
tioned these  objections.  They  indicate  the  diffi- 
culties which  have  thus  far  prevented  my  action  in 
some  such  way  as  you  desire.  I have  not  decided 
against  a proclamation  of  liberty  to  the  slaves,  but 


8b  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

hold  the  matter  under  advisement.  And  I can 
assure  you  that  the  subject  is  on  my  mind,  by 
day  and  night,  more  than  any  other.  Whatever 
shall  appear  to  be  God’s  will,  I will  do  ! I trust 
that,  in  the  freedom  with  which  I have  canvassed 
your  views,  I have  not  in  any  respect  injured  your 
feelings.” 

In  further  evidence  of  this  peculiarity  of  his 
mind,  I will  state  that  notwithstanding  his  apparent 
hesitation  in  the  appointment  of  a successor  to 
Judge  Taney,  it  is  well  known  to  his  most  intimate 
friends,  that  “ there  had  never  been  a time  during 
his  Presidency,  when,  in  the  event  of  the  death  of 
Judge  Taney,  he  had  not  fully  intended  and  ex- 
pected to  nominate  Salmon  P.  Chase  for  Chief 
Justice.”  These  were  his  very  words  uttered  in 
connection  with  this  subject. 


XXVIII. 

In  Barrett’s  biography  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  it  is 
stated  that  the  first  draft  of  the  Emancipation 
Proclamation  was  written  on  board  of  the  steam- 
boat returning  from  his  8th  of  July  visit  to 
the  army  at  Harrison’s  Landing.  This  circum- 
stance was  not  included  in  the  statement  given 
jne,  and  to  others  in  my  presence,  at  different 
times  ; but  from  the  known  relations  of  the  author 
with  the  President,  it  is  undoubtedly  true.  The 
original  draft  was  written  upon  one  side  of  four 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  87 


half  sheets  of  official  foolscap.  He  flung  flown 
upon  the  table  one  day  for  me,  several  sheets  of  the 
same,  saying,  “ There,  I believe,  is  some  of  the 
very  paper  which  was  used  ; — if  not,  it  was,  at  any 
rate,  just  like  it.”  The  original  draft  is  dated 
September  22d,  1862,  and  was  presented  to  the 
Army  Relief  Bazaar,  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  in  1864. 
It  is  in  the  proper  handwriting  of  Mr.  Lincoln, 
excepting  two  interlineations  in  pencil,  by  Secre- 
tary Seward,  and  the  formal  heading  and  ending, 
which  were  written  by  the  chief  clerk  of  the  State 
Department. 

The  final  Proclamation  was  signed  on  New- 
Year’s  Day,  1863.  The  President  remarked  t*, 
Mr.  Colfax,  the  same  evening,  that  the  signature 
appeared  somewhat  tremulous  and  uneven.  “Not,5' 
said  he,  “ because  of  any  uncertainty  or  hesitation 
on  my  part ; but  it  was  just  after  the  public  recep 
tion,  and  three  hours’  hand-shaking  is  not  calcu 
lated  to  improve  a man’s  chirography.”  Then 
changing  his  tone,  he  added : “ The  South  had  fair 
warning,  that  if  they  did  not  return  to  their  duty, 
I should  strike  at  this  pillar  of  their  strength.  The 
promise  must  now  be  kept,  and  I shall  never  recall 
one  word.” 

I remember  to  have  asked  him,  on  one  occasion, 
if  there  was  not  some  opposition  manifested  on  the 
part  of  several  members  of  the  Cabinet  to  this 
policy.  He  replied,  “ Nothing  more  than  I have 
stated  to  you.  Mr.  'Blair  thought  we  should  lose 


88 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


the  fall  elections,  and  opposed  it  on  that  ground 
only.”  “ I have  understood,”  said  I,  “ that  Sec- 
retary Smith  was  not  in  favor  of  your  action.  Mr. 
Blair  told  me  that,  when  the  meeting  closed,  he 
and  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior  went  away  to- 
gether, and  that  the  latter  said  to  him,  if  the  Pres- 
ident carried  out  that  policy,  he  might  count  on 
losing  Indiana , sure  ! ” “ He  never  said  anything 
of  the  kind  to  me,”  returned  the  President.  “And 
what  is  Mr.  Blair’s  opinion  now?  ” I asked.  “ Oh,” 
was  the  prompt  reply,  “ he  proved  right  in  regard 
to  the  fall  elections,  but  lie  is  satisfied  that  we  have 
since  gained  more  than  we  lost.”  “ I have  been 
told,”  I added,  “ that  Judge  Bates  doubted  the 
constitutionality  of  the  proclamation.”  “ He  never 
expressed  such  an  opinion  in  my  hearing,”  replied 
Mr.  Lincoln.  “ No  member  of  the  Cabinet  ever 
dissented  from  the  policy,  in  any  conversation  with 


It  seems  necessary  at  this  point  that  an  expla- 
nation should  be  given  of  a leading  article  which 
appeared  in  the  New  York  “ Independent,”  upon 
the  withdrawal  of  Mr.  Chase  from  the  political  can- 
vass of  1864,  widely  copied  by  the  country  press, 
in  which  it  was  stated  that  the  concluding  paragraph 
of  the  proclamation  was  from  the  pen  of  Secretary 
Chase.  One  of  Mr.  Lincoln’s  intimate  friends,  who 
felt  that  there  was  an  impropriety  in  this  publication, 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


89 


at  that  time,  for  which  Mr.  Chase  was  in  some  de- 
gree responsible,  went  to  see  the  President  about  it. 
“ Oh,”  said  Mr.  Lincoln,  with  his  characteristic 
simplicity  and  freedom  from  all  suspicion,  “ Mr. 
Chase  had  nothing  to  do  with  it ; I think  I men- 
tioned the  circumstance  to  Mr.  Tilton,  myself.” 

The  facts  in  the  case  are  these : While  the  meas- 
ure was  pending,  Mr.  Chase  submitted  to  the 
President  a draft  of  a proclamation  embodying  his 
views  upon  the  subject,  which  closed  with  the  ap- 
propriate and  solemn  words  referred  to : “And 
upon  this  act,  sincerely  believed  . to  be  an  act  of 
justice  warranted  by  the  Constitution,  I invoke 
the  considerate  judgment  of  mankind  and  the  gra- 
cious favor  of  Almighty  God  ! ” 

Mr.  Lincoln  adopted  this  sentence  intact,  except- 
ing; that  he  inserted  after  the  word  “ Constitution  ” 
the  words  “ upon  military  necessity.” 


XXX. 

Mr.  Chase  told  me  that  at  the-  Cabinet  meeting, 
immediately  after  the  battle  of  Antietam,  and  just 
prior  to  the  issue  of  the  September  Proclamation, 
the  President  entered  upon  the  business  before 
them,  bv  saying  that  “ the  time  for  the  annuncia- 
tion of  the  emancipation  policy  could  be  no  longer 
delayed.  Public  sentiment,”  he  thought,  “ would 
sustain  it  — many  of  his  warmest  friends  and  sup- 
porters demanded  it  — and  he  had  promised  his 


90 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


God  that  he  would  do  it ! ” The  last  part  of  this 
was  uttered  in  a low  tone,  and  appeared  to  be 
heard  by  no  one  but  Secretary  Chase,  who  was 
sitting  near  him.  He  asked  the  President  if  he 
correctly  understood  him.  Mr.  Lincoln  replied : 
“ I made  a solemn  vow  before  God , that  if  General 
Lee  was  driven  back  from  Pennsylvania , I would 
crown  the  result  by  the  declaration  of  freedom  to  the 
slaves .” 

In  February  1865,  a few  days  after  the  passage  of 
the  “ Constitutional  Amendment,”  I went  to  Wash- 
ington, and  was  received  by  Mr.  Lincoln  with  the 
kindness  and  familiarity  which  had  characterized  our 
previous  intercourse.  I said  to  him  at  this  time 
that  I was  very  proud  to  have  been  the  artist  to 
have  first  conceived  of  the  design  of  painting  a 
picture  commemorative  of  the  Act  of  Emancipa- 
tion ; that  subsequent  occurrences  had  only  con- 
firmed my  own  first  judgment  of  that  act  as  the 
most  sublime  moral  event  in  our  history.  “ Yes,” 
said  he,  — and  never  do  I remember  to  have  no- 
ticed in  him  more  earnestness  of  expression  or 
manner,  — “ as  affairs  have  turned,  it  is  the  central 
ict  of  my  administration,  and  the  great  event  of  the 
nineteenth  century .” 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


91 


XXXI. 

The  day  after  the  review  of  Burnside’s  division, 
some  photographers  from  Brady’s  Gallery  came  up 
to  the  White  House  to  make  some  stereoscopic 
studies  for  me  of  the  President’s  office.  They 
requested  a dark  closet,  in  which  to  develop  the 
pictures  ; and  without  a thought  that  I was  in- 
fringing upon  anybody’s  rights,  I took  them  to  an 
unoccupied  room  of  which  little  “ Tad  ” had  taken 
possession  a few  days  before,  and  with  the  aid  of 
a couple  of  the  servants,  had  fitted  up  as  a min- 
iature • theatre,  with  stage,  curtains,  orchestra, 
stalls,  parquette,  and  all.  Knowing  that  the  use 
required  would  interfere  with  none  of  his  arrange- 
ments, I led  the  way  to  this  apartment. 

Everything  went  on  well,  and  one  or  two  pict- 
ures had  been  taken,  when  suddenly  there  was  an 
uproar.  The  operator  came  back  to  the  office, 
and  said  that  “ Tad  ” had  taken  great  offence  at 
the  occupation  of  his  room  without  his  consent,  and 
had  locked  the  door,  refusing  all  admission.  The 
chemicals  had  been  taken  inside,  and  there  was 
no  way  of  getting  at  them,  he  having  carried  off 
the  key.  In  the  midst  of  this  conversation,  “ Tad  ” 
burst  in,  in  a fearful  passion.  He  laid  all  the 
blame  upon  me,  — said  that  I had  no  right  to  use 
his  room,  and  that  the  men  should  not  go  in  even 
to  get  their  things.  He  had  locked  the  door, 
and  they  should  not  go  there  again  — “ they  had  no 


92 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


business  in  his  room  ! ” Mr.  Lincoln  had  been  sitting 
for  a photograph,  and  was  still  in  the  chair.  He 
said,  very  mildly,  “ Tad,  go  and  unlock  the  door.” 
Tad  went  off  muttering  into  his  mother’s  room, 
refusing  to  obey.  I followed  him  into  the  passage, 
but  no  coaxing  would  pacify  him.  Upon  my  return 
to  the  President,  I found  him  still  sitting  patiently 
in  the  chair,  from  which  he  had  not  risen.  He 
said:  “ Has  not  the  boy  opened  that  door?”  I 
replied  that  we  could  do  nothing  with  him,  — he 
had  gone  off'  in  a great  pet.  Mr.  Lincoln’s  lips 
came  together  firmly,  and  then,  suddenly  rising,  he 
strode  across  the  passage  with  the  air  of  one  bent 
on  punishment,  and  disappeared  in  the  domestic 
apartments.  Directly  he  returned  with  the  key  to 
the  theatre,  which  he  unlocked  himself.  “ There,” 
said  he,  “ go  ahead,  it  is  all  right  now.”  He  then 
went  back  to  his  office,  followed  by  myself,  and 
resumed  his  seat.  “ Tad,”  said  he,  half  apolo- 
getically, “ is  a peculiar  child.  He  was  vio- 
lently excited  when  I went  to  him.  I said,  ‘ Tad, 
do  you  know  you  are  making  your  father  a great 
deal  of  trouble  ? ’ He  burst  into  tears,  instantly 
giving  me  up  the  key.” 

This  brief  glimpse  of  the  home  life  of  the  Presi- 
dent, though  trifling  in  itself,  is  the  gauge  of  his 
entire  domestic  character.  The  Hon.  W.  D.  Kelly, 
of  Philadelphia,  in  an  address  delivered  in  that  city 
soon  after  the  assasination,  said : “ His  intercourse 
with  his  family  was  beautiful  as  that  with  his  fr  aids. 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  93 

[ think  that  father  never  loved  his  children  more 
fondly  than  he.  The  President  never  seemed 
grander  in  my  sight  than  when,  stealing  upon  him 
in  the  evening,  I would  find  him  with  a book  open 
before  him,  as  he  is  represented  in  the  popular  pho- 
tograph, with  little  Tad  beside  him.  There  were 
of  course  a great  many  curious  books  sent  to  him, 
and  it  seemed  to  be  one  of  the  special  delights  of 
his  life  to  open  those  books  at  such  an  hour,  that 
his  boy  could  stand  beside  him,  and  they  could  talk 
as  he  turned  over  the  pages,  the  father  thus  giving 
to  the  son  a portion  of  that  care  and  attention  of 
which  he  was  ordinarily  deprived  by  the  duties  of 
office  pressing  upon  him.” 

No  matter  who  was  with  the  President,  or  how 
intently  he  might  be  absorbed,  little  Tad  was 
always  welcome.  At  the  time  of  which  I write  he 
was  eleven  years  old,  and  of  course  rapidly  passing 
from  childhood  into  youth.  Suffering  much  from  an 
infirmity  of  speech  which  developed  in  his  infancy, 
he  seemed  on  this  account  especially  dear  to  his 
father.  “ One  touch  of  nature  makes  the  whole 
world  kin,”  and  it  was  an  impressive  and  affecting 
sight  to  me  to  see  the  burdened  President  lost  for 
the  time  being  in  the  affectionate  parent,  as  he 
would  take  the  little  fellow  in  his  arms  upon  the 
withdrawal  of  visitors,  and  caress  him  with  all  the 
fondness  of  a mother  for  the  babe  upon  her  bosom  1 
Tad,  as  he  was  universally  called,  almost 
always  accompanied  his  father  upon  the  various 


94 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


excursions  down  the  Potomac,  which  he  was  in  tne 
habit  of  making.  Once,  on  the  way  to  Fortress 
Monroe,  he  became  very  troublesome.  The  Pres- 
ident was  much  engaged  in  conversation  with  the 
party  who  accompanied  him,  and  he  at  length  said, 
“ Tad,  if  you  will  be  a good  boy,  and  not  disturb 
me  any  more  till  we  get  to  Fortress  Monroe,  I will 
give  you  a dollar.”  The  hope  of  reward  was  effect- 
ual for  a while  in  securing  silence,  but,  boy-like, 
Tad  soon  forgot  his  promise,  and  was  as  noisy  as 
ever.  Upon  reaching  their  destination,  however,  he 
said  very  promptly,  “ Father,  I want  my  dollar.” 
Mr.  Lincoln  turned  to  him  with  the  inquiry : “ Tad, 
do  you  think  you  have  earned  it?”  “Yes,”  was 
the  sturdy  reply.  Mr.  Lincoln  looked  at  him  half 
reproachfully  for  an  instant,  and  then  taking  from 
his  pocket-book  a dollar  note,  he  said:  “ Well,  my 
son,  at  any  rate,  I will  keep  my  part  of  the  bargain.” 

While  paying  a visit  to  Commodore  Porter  at 
Fortress  Monroe,  on  one  occasion,  an  incident  oc- 
curred, subsequently  related  by  Lieutenant  Braine, 
one  of  the  officers  on  board  the  flag-ship,  to  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Ewer,  of  New  York.  Noticing  that 
the  banks  of  the  river  were  dotted  with  spring 
blossoms,  the  President  said,  with  the  manner  of 
one  asking  a special  favor : “ Commodore,  Tad 
is  very  fond  of  flowers  ; — won’t  you  let  a couple 
of  your  men  take  a boat  and  go  with  him  for  an 
hour  or  two  along  shore,  and  gather  a few?  — Jt 
will  be  a great  gratification  to  him.” 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


95 


There  is  a lesson  in  such  simple  incidents,  — 
abounding  as  they  did  in  the  life  of  the  late  Presi- 
dent, — which  should  not  be  lost  upon  the  young 
men  of  this  country.  The  Commander-in-Cluef 
of  the  Army  and  Navy  of  the  United  States,  — 
with  almost  unlimited  power  in  his  hands,  — the 
meekness  and  simplicity  with  which  Mr.  Lincoln 
bore  the  honors  of  that  high  position,  is  a spectacle 
fcr  all  time.  How  paltry  do  conceit  and  vainglory 
appear  in  the  majesty  of  such  an  example. 

“ Nothing  was  more  marked  in  Mr.  Lincoln’s 
personal  demeanor,”  writes  one  who  knew  him 
well,*  “ than  his  utter  unconsciousness  of  his  posi- 
tion. It  would  be  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  to  find 
another  man  who  would  not,  upon  a sudden  trans- 
fer from  the  obscurity  of  private  life  in  a country 
town  to  the  dignities  and  duties  of  the  Presidency, 
feel  it  incumbent  upon  him  to  assume  something 
of  the  manner  and  tone  befitting  that  position. 
Mr.  Lincoln  never  seemed  to  be  aware  that  his 
place  or  his  business  were  essentially  different  from 
those  in  which  he  had  always  been  engaged.  He 
brought  to  every  question  — the  loftiest  and  most 
imposing  — the  same  patient  inquiry  into  details, 
the  same  eager  longing  to  know  and  to  do  ex- 
actly what  was  just  and  right,  and  the  same  work- 
ing-day, plodding,  laborious  devotion,  which  char- 
acterized his  management  of  a client’s  case  at  his 
law  office  in  Springfield.  He  had  duties  to  perform 
* Hon.  Henry  J.  Raymond. 


96 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


m both  places  — in  the  one  case  to  his  country,  as 
to  his  client  in  the  other.  But  all  duties  were  alike 
to  him.  All  called  equally  upon  him  for  the  best 
service  of  his  mind  and  heart,  and  all  were  alike 
performed  with  a conscientious,  single-hearted  de- 
votion that  knew  no  distinction,  but  was  absolute 
\nd  perfect  in  every  case.” 

XXXII. 

In  the  Executive  Chamber  one  evening,  there 
vere  present  a number  of  gentlemen,  among  them 
Mr.  Seward. 

A point  in  the  conversation  suggesting  the 
thought,  the  President  said : “ Seward,  you  never 
heard,  did  you,  how  I earned  my  first  dollar?” 
“No,”  rejoined  Mr.  Seward.  “Well,”  continued 
Mr.  Lincoln,  “ I was  about  eighteen  years  of  age. 
I belonged,  you  know,  to  what  they  call  down 
South,  the  ‘ scrubs ; ’ people  who  do  not  own 
slaves  are  nobody  there.  But  we  had  succeeded 
in  raising,  chiefly  by  my  labor,  sufficient  produce, 
as  I thought,  to  justify  me  in  taking  it  down  the 
river  to  sell. 

“ After  much  persuasion,  I got  the  consent  of 
mother  to  go,  and  constructed  a little  flatboat,  large 
enough  to  take  a barrel  or  two  of  things  that  we 
had  gathered,  with  myself  and  little  bundle,  down 
to  New  Orleans.  A steamer  was  coming  down 
the  river.  We  have,'  you  know,  no  wharves  on 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  97 


the  Western  streams  ; and  the  .custom  was,  if 
passengers  were  at  any  of  the  landings,  for  them  to 
go  out  in  a boat,  the  steamer  stopping  and  taking 
them  on  board. 

“ I was  contemplating  my  new  flatboat,  and  won- 
dering whether  I could  make  it  stronger  or  improve 
it  in  any  particular,  when  two  men  came  down  to 
the  shore  in  carriages  with  trunks,  and  looking  at 
the  different  boats  singled  out  mine,  and  asked, 
1 Who  owns  this  ? ’ I answered,  somewhat  mod- 
estly, ‘I  do.’  ‘ Will  you,’  said  one  of  them,  ‘take 
us  and  our  trunks  -out  to  the  steamer  ? ’ ‘ Cer- 

tainly,’ said  I.  I was  very  glad  to  have  the  chance 
of  earning  something.  I supposed  that  each  of 
them  would  give  me  two  or  three  bits.  The  trunks 
were  put  on  my  flatboat,  the  passengers  seated 
themselves  on  the  trunks,  and  I sculled  them  out  to 
the  steamboat. 

“ They  got  on  board,  and  I lifted  up  their  heavy 
trunks,  and  put  them  on  deck.  The  steamer  was 
about  to  put  on  steam  again,  when  I called  out  that 
they  had  forgotten  to  pay  me.  Each  of  them  took 
from  his  pocket  a silver  half-dollar,  and  threw  it  on 
the  floor  of  my  boat.  I could  scarcely  believe  my 
eyes  as  I picked  up  the  money.  Gentlemen,  you 
may  think  it  wras  a very  little  thing,  and  in  these 
days  it  seems  to  me  a trifle ; but  it  was  a most 
important  incident  in  my  life  I could  scarcely 
credit  that  I,  a poor  boy,  had  earned  a dollar  in  less 
than  a day,  — that  by  honest  work  I had  earned  a 


98  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


dollar.  The  world  seemed  wider  and  fairer  before 
me.  I was  a more  hopeful  and  confident  being 
from  that  time.” 


XXXIII. 

The  Hon.  Robert  Dale  Owen  was  associated  in 
a very  interesting  interview  with  Mr.  Lincoln, 
which  took  place  a few  weeks  prior  to  the  issue 
of  the  President’s  Message  for  1863,  to  which  was 
appended  the  'Proclamation  of  Amnesty.  It  had 
been  understood  in  certain  quarters  that  such  a step 
was  at  this  period  in  contemplation  by  the  Executive. 
Being  in  Washington,  Mr.  Owen  called  upon  the 
President  on  a Saturday  morning,  and  said  that  he 
had  a matter  upon  which  he  had  expended  consid- 
erable thought,  which  he  wished  to  lay -before  him. 
Knowing  nothing  of  the  object,  Mr.  Lincoln  replied: 
“You  see  how  it  is  this  morning;  there  are  many 
visitors  waiting;  can’t  you  come  up  to-morrow 
morning  ? I shall  be  alone  then  ; and,  if  you 
have  no  scruples  upon  the  subject,  I can  give  you 
as  much  time  as  you  wish.”  Mr.  Owen  assured 
him  of  his  readiness  to  come  at  any  hour  most  con- 
venient, and  ten  o’clock  was  named.  Punctual  to 
the  appointment,  the  hour  found  him  at  the  house. 
A repeated  summons  at  the  bell  brought  no  re- 
sponse, and  he  at  length  pushed  open  the  door  and 
walked  leisurely  up  the  stairs  to  the  reception-room. 
Neither  servant  or  secretary  was  to  be  seen.  Pres- 
ently Mr.  Lincoln  passed  through  the  hall  to  his 


SIS  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


99 


office,  and  all  was  still  again.  Looking  vainly  for  a 
servant  to  announce  his  name,  Mr.  Owen  finally 
went  to  the  office- door,  and  knocked. 

“Really,”  said  he,  “Mr.  President,  I owe  you 
an  apology  for  coming  in  upon  you  in  this  uncere- 
monious way*;  but  I have  for  some  time  been  wait- 
ing the  appearance  of  a servant.” 

“Oh,”  was  the  good-natured  reply,  “the  boys 
are  all  out  this  morning.  I have  been  expecting 
you;  come  in  and  sit  down.” 

Proceeding  directly  to  the  subject  he  had  in 
hand,  at  the  same  time  unfolding  a manuscript  of 
large  proportions,  Mr.  Owen  said : 

“ I have  a paper,  here,  Mr.  President,  that  I 
have  prepared  with  some  care,  which  I wish  to  read 
to  you.” 

Mr.  Lincoln  glanced  at  the  formidable  document, 
(really  much  less  voluminous  than  it  appeared,  be- 
ing very  coarsely  written,)  and  then,  half  uncon- 
sciously relapsing  into  an  attitude  and  expression 
of  resignation  to  what  he  evidently  considered  an 
infliction  which  could  not  well  be  avoided,  signified 
his  readiness  to  listen.  The  article  was  a very 
carefully  prepared  digest  of  historical  precedents  in 
relation  to  the  subject  of  amnesty,  in  connection 
with  treason  and  rebellion.  It  analyzed  English 
and  continental  history,  and  reviewed  elaborately 
the  action  of  President  Washington  in  reference  to 
Shay’s  and  the  subsequent  whiskey  rebellion. 

“ I had  read  but  two  or  three  pages,”  said  Mr. 


100  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

Owen,  in  giving  me  this  account,  “ when  Mr. 
Lincoln  assumed  an  erect  posture,  and,  fixing  his 
eyes  intently  upon  me,  seemed  wholly  absorbed  in 
the  contents  of  the  manuscript.  Frequently  he 
would  break  in  with:  ‘Was  that  so?’  ‘Please 
read  that  paragraph  again,’  etc.  When  at  length 
I caine  to  Washington’s  proclamation  to  those  en- 
gaged in  the  whiskey  rebellion,  he  interrupted 
me  with  : ‘ What ! did  Washington  issue  a proc- 
lamation of  amnesty  ? ’ ‘ Here  it  is,  sir,’  was  the 

reply.  ‘Well,  I never  knew  that,’  he  rejoined; 
and  so  on  through.” 

Upon  the  conclusion  of  the  manuscript,  Mr.  Lin- 
coln said : “ Mr.  Owen,  is  that  for  me  ? ” 

“ Certainly,  sir,”  said  Mr.  O.,  handing  him  the 
roll.  “ I understood  that  you  were  considei’ing  this 
subject,  and  thought  a review  of  this  kind  might 
be  interesting  to  you.” 

“ Thei’e  is  a good  deal  of  hard  woi’k  in  that  doc- 
ument,” continued  Mr.  Lincoln  ; “ may  I ask  how 
long  you  were  prepai’ing  it?” 

“ About  three  months ; but  then  I have  move 
leisure  for  such  a work  than  you,  Mr.  Pi'esident.” 

Mr.  Lincoln  took  the  manuscript,  and,  folding  it 
up  cai’efully,  ai’ose,  and  laid  it  away  in  the  pigeon- 
hole marked  “ O,”  in  his  desk.  Returning  to 
his  chair,  he  said  : “ Mr.  Owen,  it  is  due  to  you 
that  I should  say  that  you  have  confeiTed  a very 
essential  sei'vice,  both  upon  me  and  the  coun- 
try, by  the  preparation  of  this  paper.  It  contains 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  101 


that  which  it  was  exceedingly  important  that  1 
should  know,  but  which,  if  left  to  myself,  I never 
should  have  known,  because  1 have  not  the  time 
necessary  for. such  an  examination  of  authorities  as 
a review  of  this  kind  involves.  And  I want  to  say, 
secondly,  if  £ had  had  the'  time,  I could  not  have 
done  the  work  so  well  as  you  have  done  it.” 

This  frank  and  generous  avowal  — so  unlike 
what  might  be  expected,  under  similar  circum- 
stances, from  most  public  men  — was  exceedingly 
characteristic  of  Mr.  Lincoln. 


XXXTY. 

The  morning  of  the  last  day  of  April,  Mr. 
Wilkeson,  the  head  of  the  New  York  “Tribune”  bu- 
reau of  correspondence  in  Washington  at  that 
period,  called  upon  me  with  his  sister-in-law,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Cady  Stanton,  well  known  for  her  radical 
views  on  political  and  social  questions,  who  wished 
an  introduction  to  the  President.  Later  in  the  day, 
after  the  accustomed  pressure  of  visitors  had  sub- 
sided, I knocked  at  the  door  of  the  President’s 
study,  and  asked  if  I might  bring  up  two  or  three 
New  York  friends.  Mr.  Lincoln  fortunately  was 
alone,  and  at  once  accorded  the  desired  permission. 
Laying  aside  his  papers,  as  we  entered,  he  turned 
around  in  his  chair  for  a leisurely  conversation. 
One  of  the  party  took  occasion  shortly  to  endorse 
/ery  decidedly  the  Amnesty  Proclamation,  which 


102  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


had  been  severely  censured  by  many  friends  of  the 
Administration.  This  approval  appeared  to  touch 
Mr.  Lincoln  deeply.  He  said,  with  a great  deal  of 
emphasis,  and  with  an  expression  of  countenance  I 
shall  never  forget,  “ When  a man  is  sincerely  pen- 
itent for  his  misdeeds,  and  gives  satisfactory  evi- 
dence of  the  same,  he  can  safely  be  pardoned,  and 
there  is  no  exception  to  the  rule.” 

Soon  afterward  he  mentioned  having  received  a 
visit  the  night  before  from  Colonel  Moody,  “ the 
fighting  Methodist  parson,”  as  he  was  called  in  Ten- 
nessee, who  had  come  on  to  attend  the  Philadelphia 
Conference.  “ He  told  me,”  said  he,  “ this  story 
of  Andy  Johnson  and  General  Buel,  which  inter- 
ested me  intensely.  The  Colonel  happened  to  be 
in  Nashville  the  day  it  was  reported  that  Buel 
had  decided  to  evacuate  the  city.  The  Rebels, 
strongly  reenforced,  were  said  to  be  within  two 
days’  march  of  the  capital.  Of  course,  the  city 
was  greatly  excited.  Moody  said  he  went  in  search 
of  Johnson,  at  the  edge  of  the  evening,  and  found 
him  at  his  office,  closeted  with  two  gentlemen, 
who  were  walking  the  floor  with  him,  one  on  each 
side.  As  he  entered,  they  retired,  leaving  him 
alone  with  Johnson,  who  came  up  to  him,  manifest- 
ing intense  feeling,  and  said,  ‘ Moody,  we  are 
sold  out ! Buel  is  a traitor  ! He  is  ffoing;  to  evac- 
uate  the  city,  and  in  forty-eight  hours  we  shall  all 
be  in  the  hands  of  the  Rebels  ! ’ Then  he  com- 
menced pacing  the  floor  again,  twisting  his  hands, 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  108 


and  chafing  like  a caged  tiger,  utterly  insensible  to 
his  friend’s  entreaties  to  become  calm.  Suddenly 
he  turned  and  said,  ‘ Moody,  can  you  pray  ? ’ 
1 That  is  my  business,  sir,  as  a minister  of  the  Gos- 
pel,’ returned  the  Colonel.  ‘Well,  Moody,  I 
wish  you  would  pray,’  said  Johnson;  and  instantly 
both  went  down  upon  their  knees,  at  opposite  sides 
of  the  room.  As  the  prayer  waxed  fervent,  John- 
son began  to  respond  in  true  Methodist  style. 
Presently  he  crawled  over  on  his  hands  and  knees 
to  Moody’s  side,  and  put  his  arm  over  him,  mani- 
festing the  deepest  emotion.  Closing  the  prayer 
with  a .hearty  ‘ Amen  ’ from  each,  they  arose. 
Johnson  took  a long  breath,  and  said,  with  em- 
phasis, ‘ Moody,  I feel  better  ! ’ Shortly  after- 
wards he  asked,  ‘ Will  you  stand  by  me  ? ’ ‘ Cer- 

tainly I will,’  was  the  answer.  ‘Well,  Moody,  I 
can  depend  upon  you ; you  are  one  in  a hundred 
thousand  ! ’ He  then  commenced  pacing  the  floor 
again.  Suddenly  he  wheeled,  the  current  of  his 
thought  having  changed,  and  said,  ‘ Oh ! Moody, 
I don’t  want  you  to  think  I have  become  a religious 
man  because  I asked  you  to  pray.  I am  sorry  to 
say  it,  but  I am  not,  and  have  never  pretended  to 
be,  religious.  No  one  knows  this  better  than  you  ; 
but,  Moody,  there  is  one  thing  about  it  — I do  be- 
lieve in  Almighty  God  ! And  I beliave  also  in 

the  Bible,  and  I say  “ d n ” me,  if  Nashville 

shall  be  surrendered ! ’ ” 

And  No'tbwflt  was  not  surrendered. 


104  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


XXXV. 

I have  elsewhere  intimated  that  Mr.  Lincoln  wag 
capable  of  much  dramatic  power.  It  is  true  this 
was  never  exhibited  in  his  public  life,  or  addresses, 
but  it  was  shown  in  his  keen  appreciation  of  Shak- 
speare,  and  unrivalled  faculty  of  story-telling. 
The  incident  just  related,  for  example,  was  given 
with  a thrilling  effect  which  mentally  placed  John- 
son, for  the  time  being,  alongside  of  Luther  and 
Cromwell.  Profanity  or  irreverence  was  lost  sight 
of  in  the  fervid  utterance  of  a highlv  wrought 
and  great-souled  determination,  united  with  a rare 
exhibition  of  pathos  and  self-abnegation. 

A narrative  of  quite  a different  character  fol- 
lowed closely  upon  this,  suggested  by  a remark 
made  by  myself.  It  was  an  account  of  how  the 
President  and  Secretary  of  War  received  the  news 
of  the  capture  of  Norfolk,  early  in  the  war.  “Chase 
and  Stanton,”  said  Mr.  Lincoln,  “had  accompanied 
me  to  Fortress  Monroe.  While  we  were  there,  an 
expedition  wras  fitted  out  for  an  attack  on  Norfolk. 
Chase  and  General  Wool  disappeared  about  the 
time  we  began  to  look  for  tidings  of  the  result,  and 
after  vainly  waiting  their  return  till  late  in  the 
evening,  Stanton  and  I concluded  to  retire.  My 
room  was  on  the  second  floor  of  the  Commandant’s 
house,  and  Stanton’s  was  below.  The  night  was 
very  warm,  — the  moon  shining  brightly,  — and, 
•■oo  restless  to  sleep,  I threw  off  my  clothes  and  sat 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  105 


for  some  time  bj  the  table,  reading.  Suddenly 
hearing  footsteps,  I looked  out  of  the  window,  and 
saw  two  persons  approaching,  whom  1 knew  by 
their  relative  size  to  be  the  missing  men.  They 
came  into  the  passage  and  I heard  them  rap  at 
Stanton’s  door  and  tell  him  to  get  up,  and  come 
up-stairs.  A moment  afterward  they  entered  my 
room.  ‘ No  time  for  ceremony,  Mr.  President,’ 
said  General  Wool;  ‘Norfolk  is  ours!’  Stanton 
here  burst  in,  just  out  of  bed,  clad  in  a long  night- 
gown, which  nearly  swept  the  floor,  his  ear  catching, 
as  he  crossed  the  threshold,  .Wool’s  last  words. 
Perfectly  overjoyed,  he  rushed  at  the  General, 
whom  he  hugged  most  affectionately,  fairly  lifting 
him  from  the  floor  in  his  delight.  The  scene  alto- 
gether must  have  been  a comical  one,  though  at 
the  time  we  were  all  too  greatly  excited  to  take 
much  note  of  mere  appearances.” 


XXXVI. 

A great  deal  has  been  said  of  the  uniform  meek- 
ness and  kindness  of  heart  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  but 
there  would  sometimes  be  afforded  evidence  that 
one  grain  of  sand  too  much  would  break  even  this 
camel’s  back.  Among  the  callers  at  the  White 
House  one  day,  was  an  officer  who  had  been  cash- 
iered from  the  service.  He  had  prepared  an  elab- 
orate defence  of  himself,  which  he  consumed  much 
time  in  reading  to  the  President.  When  he  had 


106  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


finished,  Mr.  Lincoln  replied,  that  even  upon  his 
own  statement  of  the  case,  the  facts  would  not 
warrant  executive  interference.  Disappointed,  and 
considerably  crestfallen,  the  man  withdrew.  A 
few  days  afterward  he  made  a second  attempt  to 
alter  the  President’s  convictions,  going  over  sub- 
stantially the  same  ground,  and  occupying  about 
the  same  space  of  time,  but  without  accomplishing 
his  end.  The  third  time  he  succeeded  in  forcing 
himself  into  Mr.  Lincoln’s  presence,  who  with  great 
forbearance  listened  to  another  repetition  of  the 
case  to  its  conclusion,  but  made  no  reply.  Waiting 
for  a moment,  the  man  gathered  from  the  expres- 
sion of  his  countenance  that  his  mind  was  uncon- 
vinced. Turning  very  abruptly,  he  said:  “Well, 
Mr.  President,  I see  you  are  fully  determined  not 
to  do  rrre  justice ! ” This  was  too  aggravating, 
even  for  Mr.  Lincoln.  Manifesting,  however,  no 
more  feeling  than  that  indicated  by  a slight  com- 
pression of  the  lips,  he  very  quietly  arose,  laid 
down  a package  of  papers  he  held  in  his  hand,  and 
then  suddenly  seizing  the  defunct  officer  by  the 
coat-collar,  he  marched  him  forcibly  to  the  door, 
saying,  as  he  ejected  him  into  the  passage : “ Sir,  I 
give  you  fair  warning  never  to  show  yourself  in 
this  room  again.  I fan  bear  censure,  but  not  in- 
sult ! ” In  a whining  tone  the  man  begged  for  his 
papers,  which  he  had  dropped.  “ Begone,  sir,” 
said  the  President,  “ your  papers  will  be  sent  to 
fou.  I never  wish  to  see  your  face  again  ! ” 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  107 

Upon  another  occasion,  as  I was  going  through 
the  passage,  the  door  of  the  President’s  office  sud- 
denly opened,  and  two  ladies,  one  of  whom  seemed 
in  a towering  passion,  were  unceremoniously  ush- 
ered out  by  one  of  the  attendants.  As  they  passed 
me  on  their  way  down  the  stairs,  I overheard  the 
elder  remonstrating  with  her  companion  upon  the 
violence  of  her  expressions.  I afterward  asked  old 
Daniel  what  had  happened  ? “ Oh,”  he  replied, 

“ the  younger  woman  was  very  saucy  to  the  Presi- 
dent. She  went  one  step  too  far ; and  he  told  me 
to  show  them  out  of  the  house  ? ” 

Of  a similar  character  is  an  incident  given 
by  “ N.  C.  J.,”  in  a letter  to  the  New  York 
“ Times  ” : — 

“ Among  the  various  applicants,  a well-dressed 
lady  came  forward,  without  apparent  embarrass- 
ment in  her  air  or  manner,  and  addressed  the  Presi- 
dent. Giving  her  a very  close  and  scrutinizing 
look,  he  said,  4 Well,  madam,  what  can  I do  for 
you  ? ’ She  proceeded  to  tell  him  that  she  lived  in 
Alexandria  ; that  the  church  where  she  worshipped 
had  been  taken  for  a hospital.  4 What  church, 
madam  ? ’ Mr.  Lincoln  asked,  in  a quick,  nervous 

manner.  4 The  church,’  she  replied  ; 4 and 

as  there  are  only  two  or  three  wounded  soldiers  in 
it,  I came  to  see  if  you  would  not  let  us  have  it,  as 
we  want  it  very  much  to  worship  God  in.’  4 Mad- 
am, have  you  been  to  see  the  Post  Surgeon  at 
Alexandria  about  this  matter  ? ’ 4 Yes,  sir  ; but  we 


108  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

could  do  nothing  with  him.’  ‘Well,  we  put  him 
there  to  attend  to  just  such  business,  and  it  is  rea- 
sonable to  suppose  that  he  knows  better  what 
should  be  done  under  the  circumstances  than  I do. 
See  here : you  say  you  live  in  Alexandria ; prob- 
ably you  own  property  there.  How  much  will  you 
give  to  assist  in  building  a hospital?  ’ 

“ 4 You  know,  Mr.  Lincoln,  our  property  is  very 
much  embarrassed  by  the  war ; — so,  really,  I could 
hardly  afford  to  give  much  for  such  a purpose.’ 

“ ‘ Well,  madam,  I expect  we  shall  have  another 
fight  soon  ; and  my  candid  opinion  is,  God  wants 
that  church  for  poor  wounded  Union  soldiers,  as 
much  as  he  does  for  secesh  people  to  worship  in.’ 
Turning  to  his  table,  he  said,  quite  abruptly,  ‘You 
will  excuse  me ; I can  do  nothing  for  you.  Good 
day,  madam.’ 

“ I had  noticed  two  other  women  who  stood  just 
back  of  me.  I was  fully  convinced  that  I had 
rightly  guessed  their  errand  from  their  appearance ; 
for  one  of  them,  whose  wicked  eyes  shot  fire,  said  to 
her  companion  in  a spiteful  under-tone,  ‘ Oh ! the 
old  brute,  — there  is  no  use  asking  for  our  passes  ; 
come,  let ’s  go.’  And  they  did  go,  in  evident 
wrath ; leaving  the  President  to  perform  more 
pleasant  duties.” 

The  same  correspondent  witnessed  also  the  fol- 
lowing scene  — 

“ A couple  of  aged,  plain  country  people,  poorly 
clad,  but  with  frank  open  countenances,  now  came 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  10'9 

forward.  * Now  is  jour  time,  dear,’  said  the  hus- 
band, as  the  President  dismissed  the  one  preceding 
them.  The  lady  stepped  forward,  made  a low 
courtesy,  and  said,  ‘ Mr.  President.’ 

“ Mr.  Lincoln,  looking  over  Ids  spectacles,  fixed 
those  gray,  piercing,  yet  mild  eyes  upon  her,  then 
lifting  his  head  and  extending  his  hand,  he  said,  in 
the  kindest  tones : ‘ W ell,  good  lady,  wThat  can  I 
do  for  you  ? ’ 

“ ‘ Mr.  President,’  she  resumed,  ‘ I feel  so  em- 
barrassed I can  hardly  .speak.  I never  spoke  to  a 
President  before ; but  I am  a good  Union  woman 
down  in  Maryland,  and  my  son  is  wounded  badly, 
and  in  the  hospital,  and  I have  been  trying  to  get 
him  out,  but  somehow  could  n’t,  and  they  said  I had 
better  come  right  to  you.  When  the  war  first 
broke  out  I gave  my  son  first  to  God,  and  then  told 
him  he  might  go  fight  the  Rebels  ; and  now  if  you 
will  let  me  take  him  home  I will  nurse  him  up, 
and  just  as  soon  as  he  gets  well  enough  he  shall  go 
right  back  and  help  put  down  the  rebellion.  He  is 
a good  boy,  and  don't  want  to  shirk  the  service.’ 

“ I was  looking  full  in  Mr.  Lincoln’s  face.  I saw 
the  tears  gathering  in  his  eyes,  and  his  lips  quiv- 
ered as  he  replied : 

“ ‘ Yes,  yes,  God  bless  you  ! you  shall  have  your 
son.  What  hospital  did  you  say  ? ’ It  seemed  a 
relief  to  him  to  turn  aside  and  write  a few  words, 
which  he  handed  to  the  woman,  saying : ‘ There, 

give  that  to ; and  you  will  get  your  son,  if  he 

is  able  to  go  home  with  you.’ 


110  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


“‘God  bless  you,  Mr.  President!’  said  tho 
father,  the  only  words  he  had  uttered  ; and  the 
mother,  making  a low  courtesy,  fairly  sobbed : 
‘ O sir,  we  are  so  much  obliged  to  }mu.’  ‘ Yes, 

yes ; all  right ; and  you  will  find  that  that  will 
bring  him,’  was  spoken  in  tones  so  kindly  and 
tender,  that  they  have  often  since  thrilled  my 
memory.” 


XXXVII. 

In  the  year  1855  or  ’56,  George  B.  Lincoln, 
Esq.,  of  Brooklyn,  was  travelling  through  the  West 
in  connection  with  a large  New  York  dry-goods 
establishment.  He  found  himself  one  night  in  an 
insignificant  town  on  the  Illinois  River,  by  the  name 
of  Naples.  The  only  tavern  of  the  place  had  evi- 
dently been  constructed  with  reference  to  business 
on  the  smallest  possible  scale.  Poor  as  the  prospect 
seemed,  Mr.  Lincoln  had  no  alternative  but  to 
put  up  at  the  place.  The  supper-room  was  also 
used  as  a lodging-room.  After  a tolerable  supper 
and  a comfortable  hour  before  the  fire,  Mr.  L. 
told  his  host  that  he  thought  he  would  “ go  to 
bed.”  “ Bed  ! ” echoed  the  landlord  ; “ there  is 
no  bed  for  you  in  this  house,  unless  you  sleep  with 
that  man  yonder.  He  has  the  only  one  we  have 
to  spare.”  “Well,”  returned  Mr.  Lincoln,  “the 
gentleman  has  possession,  and  perhaps  would  not 
like  a bedfellow.”  Upon  this,  a grizzly  head  ap^ 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  Ill  ' 

peared  out  of  the  pillows,  and  said,  “ What  is  your 
name?”  “ They  call  me  Lincoln  at  home,”  was 
the  reply.  “ Lincoln  ! ” repeated  the  stranger  ; 
“any  connection  of  our  Illinois  Abraham?”  “No,” 
replied  Mr.  L.,  “I  fear  not.”  “Well,”  said  the 
old  man,  “I  will  let  any  man  by  the.  name  of 
‘ Lincoln  ’ sleep  with  me,  just  for  the  sake  of  the 
name.  You  have  heard  of  Abe?”  he  inquired. 

“ Oh  yes,  very  often,”  replied  Mr.  Lincoln.  “ No 
man  could  travel  far  in  this  State  without  hearing 
of  7/m,  and  I would  be  very  glad  to  claim  connec- 
tion, if  I could  do  so  honestly.”  “ Well,”  said  the 
old  gentleman,  “ my  name  is  Simmons.  ‘ Abe  ’ 
and  I used  to  live  and  work  together  when  we 
were  young  men.  Many  a job  of  wood-cutting  and 
rail-splitting  have  I done  up  with  him.  Abe  Lin- 
coln, ” said  he  with  emphasis,  “ was  the  likeliest 
boy  in  God's  world.  He  would  work  all  day  as 
hard  as  any  of  us  — and  study  by  firelight  in  the 
log-house  half  the  night ; and  in  this  way  he  made 
himself  a thorough  practical  surveyor.  Once,  dur- 
ing those  days,  I was  in  the  upper  part  of  the  State, 
and  I met  General  Ewing,  whom  President  Jack- 
son  had  sent  to  the  Northwest  to  make  surveys. 

I told  him  about  Abe  Lincoln,  what  a student  he 
was,  and  that  I wanted  he  should  give  him  a job. 
He  looked  over  his  memoranda,  and,  pulling  out. 
a paper,  said  : 1 There  is county  must  be  sur- 

veyed ; if  your  friend  can  do  the  work  properly,  I 
shall  be  glad  to  have  him  undertake  it  — - the  com 


112  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

pensation  will  be  six  hundred  dollars  ! ’ Pleased 
as  I could  be,  I hastened  to  Abe,  after  I got 
home,  with  an  account  of  what  I had  secured  for 
him.  He  was  sitting  before  the  fire  in  the  log- 
cabin  when  I told  him  ; and  what  do  you  think  was 
his  answer  ? When  I finished,  he  looked  up  very 
quietly,  and  said,  ‘ Mr.  Simmons,  I thank  you  very 
sincerely  for  your  kindness,  but  I don’t  think  I will 
undertake  the  job.’  ‘ In  the  name  of  wonder,’  said 
I,  ‘ why  ? Six  hundred  dollars  does  not  grow  upon 
every  bush  out  here  in  Illinois.’  ‘ I know  that,’ 
said  Abe,  ‘ and  I need  the  money  bad  enough, 
Simmons,  as  you  know  ; but  I never  have  been 
under  obligation  to  a Democratic  administration, 
and  I never  intend  to  be  so  long  as  I can  get  my 
living  another  way.  General  Ewing  must  find 
another  man  to  do  his  work.’  ” 

I related  this  story  to  the  President  one  day,  and 
asked  him  if  it  was  true.  “ Pollard  Simmons  ! ” 
said  he  : “ well  do  I remember  him.  It  is  correct 
about  our  working  together  ; but  the  old  man  must 
have  stretched  the  facts  somewhat  about  the  survey 
of  the  county.  I think  I should  have  been  very 
glad  of  the  job  at  that  time,  no  matter  what  admin- 
istration was  in  power.”  Notwithstanding  this,  how- 
ever, I am  inclined  to  believe  Mr.  Simmons 
was  not  far  out  of  the  way.  His  statement  seems 
very  characteristic  of  what  Abraham  Lincoln  may 
be  supposed  to  have  been  at  twenty-three  or 
twenty- five  years  of  age. 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE  113 

Mr.  G.  B.  Lincoln  also  told  me  of  an  amusing 
circumstance  which  took  place  at  Springfield  soon 
after  Mr.  Lincoln’s  nomination  in  1860.  A hatter 
in  Brooklyn  secretly  obtained  the  size  of  the  future 
President’s  head,  and  made  for  him  a very  elegant 
hat,  which  he  sent  by  his  townsman,  Lincoln,  to 
Springfield.  About  the  time  it  was  presented, 
various  other  testimonials  of  a similar  character 
had  come  in  from  different  sections.  Mr.  Lincoln 
took  the  hat,  and  after  admiring  its  texture  and 
workmanship,  put  it  on  his  head  and  walked  up  to 
a looking-glass.  Glancing  from  the  reflection  to 
Mrs.  Lincoln,  he  said,  with  his  peculiar  twinkle  of 
the  eye,  “Well,  wife,  there  is  one  thing  likely  to 
come  out  of  this  scrape,  any  how.  We  are  going 
to  have  some  new  clothes /” 

One  afternoon  during  the  summer  of  1862,  the 
President  accompanied  several  gentlemen  to  the 
Washington  Navy-yard,  to  witness  some  experiments 
with  a newly-invented  gun.  Subsequently  the 
party  went  aboard  of  one  of  the  steamers  lying  at 
the  wharf.  A discussion  was  going  on  as  to  the 
merits  of  the  invention,  in  the  midst  of  which  Mr. 
Lincoln  caught  sight  of  some  axes  hanging  up  out* 
side  of  the  cabin.  Leaving  the  group,  he  quietly 
went  forward,  and  taking  one  down,  returned  with 
it,  and  said : “ Gentlemen,  you  may  talk  about 
your  ‘ Raphael  repeaters  ’ and  ‘ eleven-inch  Dald- 
grens  ; ’ but  here  is  an  institution  which  I guess  1 
understand  better  than  either  of  you.”  With  that 


114  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


lie  held  the  axe  out  at  arm’s  length  by  the  end  of 
the  handle,  or  “ helve,”  as  the  wood-cutters  call 
it  — a feat  not  another  person  of  the  party  could 
perform,  though  all  made  the  attempt.  In  such 
acts  as  this,  showing  that  he  neither  forgot  nor  was 
ashamed  of  his  humble  origin,  the  late  President 
exhibited  his  true  nobility  of  character.  He  was  a 
perfect  illustration  of  his  favorite  poet’s  words : 

“ The  rank  is  hut  the  guinea’s  stamp, 

The  man’s  the  gold,  tor  a’  that!  ” 


XXXVIII. 

In  March,  1864,  Edwin  Forrest  came  to  Wash- 
ington to  fulfil  an  engagement  at  Ford’s  Theatre. 
It  was  announced  one  day  that  he  was  to  appear 
that  evening  in  “ Richelieu.”  I was  with  the 
President,  when  Senator  Harris  of  New  York  came 
in.  After  he  had  finished  his  business,  which  was 
to  secure  the  remittance  of  the  sentence  of  one  of 
his  constituents,  who  had  been  imprisoned  on  what 
seemed  insufficient  grounds,  I told  the  President 
that  Forrest  was  to  play  Richelieu  that  evening, 
and,  knowing  his  tastes,  I said  it  was  a play 
which  I thought  he  would  enjoy,  for  Forrest’s  rep- 
resentation of  it  was  the  most  life-like  of  anything 
I had  ever  seen  upon  the  stage.  “ Who  wrote  the 
play?”  said  he.  “ Buhvei’,”  I replied.  “Ah!”, 
he  rejoined  ; “ well,  I knew  Bulwer  wrote  novels, 
but  I did  not  know  he  was  a play-writer  also.  It 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  115 

tnay  seem  somewhat  strange  to  say,”  he  continued, 
“ but  I never  read  an  entire  novel  in  my  life ! ” 
Said  Judge  Harris,  “ Is  it  possible  ? ” “ Yes,” 

returned  the  President,  “ it  is  a fact.  I once  com- 
menced ‘ Ivanhoe,’  but  never  finished  it.”  This 
statement,  in  this  age  of  the  world,  seems  almost 
incredible — but  I give  the  circumstance  as  it  oc- 
curred. 

However  it  may  have  been  with  regard  to  nov- 
els, it  is  very  certain  — as  I have  already  illus- 
trated — that  he  found  time  to  read  Shakspeare  ; 
and  that  he  was  also  fond  of  certain  kinds  of  poetry. 
N.  P.  Willis  once  told  me,  that  he  was  taken  quite 
by  surprise,  on  a certain  occasion  when  he  was 
riding  with  the  President  and  Mrs.  Lincoln,  by 
Mr.  Lincoln,  of  his  own  accord,  referring  to,  and 
quoting  several  lines  from  his  poem  entitled  “ Par- 
rhasius.” 

In  the  spring  of  1862,  the  President  spent  sev- 
eral days  at  Fortress  Monroe,  awaiting  military 
operations  upon  the  Peninsula.  As  a portion  of 
the  Cabinet  were  with  him,  that  was  temporarily 
the  seat  of  government,  and  he  bore  with  him  con- 
stantly the  burden  of  public  affairs.  His  favorite 
diversion  was  reading  Shakspeare.  One  day  (it 
chanced  to  be  the  day  before  the  capture  of 
Norfolk)  as  he  sat  reading  alone,  he  called  to  his 
aide*  in  the  adjoining  room,  — “You  have  been 
writing  long  enough,  Colonel;  come  in.  here;  I 

* Colonel  Le  Grand  B.  Cannon,  of  General  Wool’s  staff. 


116  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


want  to  read  you  a passage  in  ‘ Hamlet.’  ” He  read 
the  discussion  on  ambition  between  Hamlet  and  his 
courtiers,  and  the  soliloquy,  in  which  conscience 
debates  of  a future  state.  This  was  followed  by 
passages  from  “ Macbeth.”  Then  opening  to  “ King 
John,”  he  read  from  the  third  act  the  passage  in 
which  Constance  bewails  her  imprisoned,  lost*boy. 

Closing  the  book,  and  recalling  the  words,  — 

“ And,  father  cardinal,  I have  heard  you  say 
That  we  shall  see  and  know  our  friends  in  heaven: 

If  that  be  true,  I shall  see  my  boy  again,”  — 

Mr.  Lincoln  said : “ Colonel,  did  you  ever  dream 
of  a lost  friend,  and  feel  that  you  were  holding 
sweet  communion  with  that  friend,  and  yet  have  a 
sad  consciousness  that  it  was  not  a,  reality  ? — just 
so  I dream  of  my  boy  Willie.”  Overcome  with 
emotion,  he  dropped  his  head  on  the  table,  and 
sobbed  aloud. 


XXXIX. 

William  Wallace  Lincoln,  I never  knew.  He 
died  Thursday,  February  20th,  1862,  nearly  two 
years  before  my  intercourse  with  the  President 
commenced.  He  had  just  entered  upon  his  twelfth 
year,  and  has  been'  described  to  me  as  of  an  un- 
usually serious  and  thoughtful  disposition.  His 
death  was  the  most  crushing  affliction  Mr.  Lincoln 
had  ever  been  called  upon  to  pass  through. 

After  the  funeral,  the  President  resumed  his 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  117 


official  duties,  but  mechanically,  and  with  a terrible 
weight  at  his  heart.  The  following  Thursday  he 
gave  way  to  his  feelings,  and  shut  himself  from  all 
society.  The  second  Thursday  it  was  the  same  ; 
he  would  see  no  one,  and  seemed  a prey  to  the 
deepest  melancholy.  About  this  time  the  Rev. 
Francis  Vinton,  of  Trinity  Church,  New  York,  had 
occasion  to  spend  a few  days  in  Washington.  An 
acquaintance  of  Mrs.  Lincoln  and  of  her  sister, 
Mrs.  Edwards,  of  Springfield,  he  was  requested  by 
them  to  come  up  and-  see  the  President.  The 
setting  apart  of  Thursday  for  the  indulgence  of  his 
grief  had  gone  on  for  several  weeks,  and  Mrs. 
Lincoln  began  to  be  seriously  alarmed  for  the 
health  of  her  husband,  of  which  fact  Dr.  Vinton  was 
apprised.  Mr.  Lincoln  received  him  in  the  parlor, 
and  an  opportunity  was  soon  embraced  by  the  cler- 
gyman to  chide  him  ,f°r  showing  so  rebellious  a 
disposition  to  the  decrees  of  Providence.  He  told 
him  plainly  that  the  indulgence  of  such  feelings, 
though  natural,  was  sinful.  It  was  unworthy  one 
who  believed  in  the  Christian  religion.  He  had 
duties  to  the  living,  greater  than  those  of  aiiy  other 
man,  as  the  chosen  father,  and  leader  of  the  people, 
and  he  was  unfitting  himself  for  his  responsibilities 
by  thus  giving  way  to  his  grief.  To  mourn  the 
departed  as  lost  belonged  to  heathenism  — not  to 
Christianity.  “Your  son,”  said  Dr.  Vinton,  “is 
alive , in  Paradise.  Do  you  remember  that  passage 
m the  Gospels : ‘ God  is  not  the  God  of  the  dead 


118  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

but  of  the  living,  for  all  live  unto  him  ’ ? ” The 
President  had  listened  as  one  in  a stupor,  until  his 
ear  caught  the  words,  “Your  son  is  alive.”  Start- 
ing from  the  sofa,  he  exclaimed,  “Alive!  alive! 
Surely  you  mock  me.”  “ No,  sir,  believe  me,”  re- 
plied Dr.  Vinton  ; “ it  is  a most  comforting  doctrine 
of  the  church,  founded  upon  the  words  of  Christ 
himself.”  Mr.  Lincoln  looked  at  him  a moment, 
and  then,  stepping  forward,  he  threw  his  arm 
around  the  clergyman’s  neck,  and,  laying  his  head 
upon  his  breast,  sobbed  aloud.  “ Alive  ? alive  ? ” 
he  repeated!  “ My  dear  sir,”  said  Dr.  Vinton, 
greatly  moved,  as  he  twined  his  own  arm  around 
the  weeping  father,  “ believe  this,  for  it  is  God’s 
most  precious  truth.  Seek  not  your  son  among  the 
dead  ; he  is  not  there ; he  lives  to-day  in  Paradise  ! 
Think  of  the  full  import  of  the  words  I have 
quoted.  The  Sadducees,  when  they  questioned 
Jesus,  had  no  other  conception  than  that  Abra- 
ham, Isaac,  and  Jacob  were  dead  and  buried. 
Mark  the  reply:  ‘ Now  that  the  dead  are  raised, 
even  Moses  showed  at  the  bush  when  he  called  the 
Lord  the  God  of  Abraham,  the  God  of  Isaac,  and 
the  God  of  Jacob.  For  he  is  not  the  God  of  the 
dead,  but  of  the  living,  for  all  live  unto  him  ! ’ Did 
not  the  aged  -patriarch  mourn  his  sons  as  dead  ? — 
‘ Joseph  is  not,  and  Simeon  is  not,  and  ye  will  take 
Benjamin  also.’  But  Joseph  and  Simeon  were 
both  living,  though  he  believed  it  not.  Indeed, 
Joseph  being  taken  from  him,  was  the  eventual 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


119 


means  of  the  preservation  of  the  whole  family. 
And  so  God  has  called  your  son  into  his  upper 
kingdom  — a kingdom  and  an  existence  as  real, 
more  real,  than  your  own.  It  may  be  that  he  too, 
like  Joseph,  has  gone,  in  God’s  good  providence,  to 
be  the  salvation  of  his  father’s  household.  It  is  a 
part  of  the  Lord’s  plan  for  the  ultimate  happiness 
of  you'  and  yours.  Doubt  it  not.  I have  a ser- 
mon,” continued  Dr.  Yinton,  “ upon  this  subject, 
which  I think  might  interest  you.”  Mr.  Lincoln 
begged  him  to  send  it  at  an  early  day  — thanking 
him  repeatedly  for  his  cheering  and  hftpeful  words. 
The  sermon  was  sent,  and  read  over  and  over 
by  the  President,  wrho  caused  a copy  to  be  made 
for  his  own  private  use  before  it  was  returned. 
Through  a member  of  the  family,  I have  been  in- 
formed that  Mr.  Lincoln’s  views  in  relation  to  spir- 
itual things  seemed  changed  from  that  hour.  Cer- 
tain  it  is,  that  thenceforth  he  ceased  the  observance 
of  the  day  of  the  week  upon  which  his  son  died, 
and  gradually  resumed  his  accustomed  cheerfulness 


XL. 

Among  my  visitors  in  the  early  part  of  May  was 
the  Hon.  Mr.  Alley,  of  Massachusetts,  who  gave 
me  a deeply  interesting  inside  glimpse  of  the 
Chicago  Republican  Convention  in  1860.  The  pop- 
ular current  had,  at  first,  set  very  strongly  in  favor 
of  Mr.  Seward,  who,  many  supposed,  would  be 


120 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


nominated  almost  by  acclamation.  The  evening 
before  the  balloting  the  excitement  was  at  the 
highest  pitch.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  telegraphed  at 
Springfield,  that  his  chances  with  the  Convention 
depended  upon  obtaining  the  votes  of  two  delega- 
tions which  were  named  in  the  despatch ; and  that, 
to  secure  this  support,  he  must  pledge  himself,  if 
elected,  to  give  places  in  his  Cabinet  to  the  respec- 
tive heads  of  those  delegations.  A reply  was  im- 
mediately returned  over  the  wires,  characteristic  of 
the  man.  It  was  to  this  effect : — 

“ I authorize  no  bargains,  and  will  be  bound  by 
none.  A.  Lincoln.” 

It  is  unqestionable  that  the  country  was  not  pre- 
pared for  the  final  action  of  this  Convention.  In 
various  sections  of  the  Eastern  and  Middle  States, 
the  antecedents  and  even  the  name  of  Mr.  Lincoln 
were  entirely  unknown.  The  newspapers  announced 
the  nominee  as  the  “ Illinois  Rail-splitter  ; ” and 
however  popular  this  title  may  have  been  with  the 
masses,  it  is  not  to  be  denied  that  it  seemed  to 
many  people  a very  extraordinary  qualification  for 
the  Presidency.  An  acquaintance  of  mine,  who 
happened  to  be  in  Boston  on  the  evening  of  the 
day  the  Convention  adjourned,  formed  one  of  a 
large  group  at  his  hotel,  eagerly  discussing  the 
result.  Only  one  or  two  of  the  party  knew  any- 
thing whatever  of  the  first  name  on  the  “ticket,” 
and  what  they  knew  was  soon  told.  Considerable 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  121 

disappointment  could  be  seen  in  the  faces  of  those 
composing  the  circle.  One  rough-looking  sover- 
eign, from  Cape  Cod,  or  Nantucket,  had  listened 
attentively,  but  taken  no  part  in  the  conversation. 
Turning  away  at  length,  with  an  expression  of  deep 
disgust,  he  muttered  : “ A set  of  consummate  fools  ! 
Nominate  a man  for  the  Presidency  who  has  never 
smelt  salt  water  ! ” 

Some  of  Mr.  Lincoln’s  immediate  neighbors  were 
taken  as  completely  by  surprise  as  those  in  distant 
States.  An  old  resident  of  Springfield  told  me  that 
there  lived  within  a block  or  two  of  his  house,  in 
that  city,  an  Englishman,  who  of  course  still  cher- 
ished to  some  extent  the  ideas  and  prejudices  of  his 
native  land.  Upon  hearing  of  the  choice  at  Chi- 
cago he  could  not  contain  his  astonishment. 

© 

“ What ! ” said  he,  “ Abe  Lincoln  nominated  for 
President  of  the  United  States  ? Can  it  be  possible ! 
A man  that  buys  a ten-cent  beefsteak  for  his  break- 
fast, and  carries  it  home  himself.  ” 

A correspondent  of  the  “ Portland  Press  ” has 
given  to  the  public  the  following  account  of  Mr. 
Lincoln’s  reception  of  the  nomination;  — 

“In  June,  1860,  a Massachusetts  gentleman  was 
induced  to  take  the  opportunity,  in  company  with 
several  delegates  and  others  interested  in  the  objects 
of  the  Convention,  to  go  to  Chicago  and  spend  a 
few  days  in  visiting  that  section  of  our  country.  In 
a very  few  minutes  after  the  final  balloting,  when 
Mr.  Lincoln  was  nominated,  it  happened  that  a 


122  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


train  of  cars  started  upon  the  Central  Railroad, 
passing  through  Springfield,  and  Mr.  R.  took  pas- 
sage in  the  same.  Arriving  at  Springfield,  he  put 
up  at  a public  house,  and,  loitering  upon  the  front 
door-steps,  had  the  curiosity  to  inquire  of  the  land- 
lord where  Mr.  Lincoln  lived.  While  giving  the 
necessary  directions,  the  landlord  suddenly  re- 
marked, ‘ There  is  Mr.  Lincoln  now,  coming  down 
the  sidewalk ; that  tall,  crooked  man,  loosely  walk- 
ing this  way.  If  you  wish  to  see  him,  you  will  have 
an  opportunity  by  putting  yourself  in  his  track.’ 

“ In  a few  moments  the  object  of  his  curiosity 
reached  the  point  the  gentleman  occupied,  who, 
advancing,  ventured  to  accost  him  thus  : ‘ Is  this 
Mr.  Lincoln  ? ’ ‘ That,  sir,  is  my  name,’  was  the 

* courteous  reply.  ‘ My  name  is  R.,  from  Plymouth 
County,  Massachusetts,’  returned  the  gentleman, 
and  learning  that  you  have  to  lay  been  made  the 
public  property  of  the  United  States,  I have  ven 
tured  to'  introduce  myself,  with  a view  to  a brief 
acquaintance,  hoping  you  will  pardon  such  a patri 
otic  curiosity  in  a stranger.’  Mr.  Lincoln  received 
his  salutations  with  cordiality,  told  him  no  apology 
was  necessary  for  his  introduction,  and  asked  him 
to  accompany  him  to  his  residence.  He  had  just 
come  from  the  telegraph  office,  where  he  had  learned 
the  fact  of  his  nomination ; and  was  on  his  return 
home,  when  Mr.  R.  met  and  accompanied  him 
thither. 

“ Arriving  at  Mr.  Lincoln’s  residence,  he  was 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


123 


introduced  to  Mrs.  Lincoln  and  the  two  boys,  and 
entered  into  conversation  in  relation  to  the  Lincoln 
family  of  the  Old  Colony,  — the  Hingham  General 
Lincoln  of  the  Revolutionary  army,  and  the  two 
Worcester  Lincolns,  brothers,  who  were  governors 
of  Massachusetts  and  Maine  at  one  and  the  same 
• time.  In  reply  to  Mr.  R.’s  inquiry,  whether  he 
could  trace  his  ancestry  to  either  of  those  early 
families  of  his  own  name,  Mr.  Lincoln,  with  charac- 
teristic facetiousness,  replied  that  he  could  not  say 
that  he  ever  had  an  ancestor  older  than  his  father ; 
and  therefore  had  it  not  in  his  power  to  trace  his 
genealogy  to  so  patriotic  a source  as  old  General 
Lincoln  of  the  Revolution  ; though  he  wished  he 
could.  After  some  further  pleasant  conversation, 
chiefly  relating  to  the  early  history  of  the  Pilgrim 
Fathers,  with  which  he  seemed  familiar,  Mr.  R. 
desired  the  privilege  of  writing  a letter  to  be  de- 
spatched by  the  next  mail.  He  was  very  promptly 
and  kindly  provided  with  the  necessary  means.-  As 
he  began  to  write,  Mr.  Lincoln  approached,  and 
tapping  him  on  the  shoulder,  expressed  the  hope 
that  he  was  net  a spy  who  had  come  thus  early  to 
report  his  faults  to  the  public.  ‘ By  no  means,  sir,’ 
protested  Mr.  R. ; ‘ I am  writing  home  to  my  wife, 
who,  I dare  say,  will  hardly  credit  the  fact  that  I 
am  writing  in  your  house.’  ‘ O,  sir,’  rejoined  Mr. 
Lincoln,  ‘ if  your  wife  doubts  your  word,  I will 
cheerfully  indorse  it,  if  you  will  give  me  permis- 
sion ; ’ and  taking  the  pen  from  Mr.  R.,  he  wrote 


124  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

the  following  words  in  a clear  hand  upon  the  blank 
page  of  the  letter : — 

. “ * I am  happy  to  say  that  your  husband  is  at  the 
present  time  a guest  in  my  house,  and  in  due  time 
I trust  you  will  greet  his  safe  return  to  the  bosom 
of  his  family.  A.  Lincoln.’ 

“ This  gave  Mr.  R.  an  excellent  autograph  of 
Mr.  Lincoln,  besides  bearing  witness  to  his  hospi- 
table and  cheerful  spirit. 

“ Whilst  thus  engaged  in  pleasant  conversation, 
the  cars  arrived  that  brought  from  Chicago  the 
committee  of  the  Convention  appointed  to  notify 
Mr.  Lincoln  of  his  nomination.  He  received  them 
at  the  door,  and  conducted  them  to  seats  in  his 
parlor.  On  the  reception  of  this  committee,  Mr. 
Lincoln  appeared  somewhat  embarrassed,  but  soon 
resumed  his"  wonted  tranquillity  and  cheerfulness. 
At  the  proper  time,  Governor  Morgan,  of  New 
York,  chairman  of  the  committee,  arose,  and,  with 
becoming  dignity,  informed  Mr.  Lincoln  that  he  and 
his  fellows  appeared  in  behalf  of  the  Convention  in 
session  at  Chicago,  to  inform  him  that  he  had  that 
day  been  unanimously  nominated  to  the  office  of 
President  of  the  United  States  ; and  asked  his  per- 
mission to  report  to  that  body  his  acceptance  of  the 
nomination.  Mr.  Lincoln,  with  becoming  modesty, 
but  very  handsomely,  replied  that  he  felt  his  insuf- 
ficiency for  the  vast  responsibilities  which  must  de- 
volve upon  that  office  under  the  impending  circum- 
stances of  the  times  ; but  if  God  and  his  country 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  125 


caJled  for  his  services  in  that  direction,  he  should 
shrink  from  no  duty  that  might  be  imposed  upon 
him,  and  therefore  he  should  not  decline  the  nomi- 
nation. 

“ After  this  ceremony  had  passed,  Mr.  Lincoln 
remarked  to  the  company,  that  as  an  appropriate 
conclusion  to  an  interview  so  important  and  inter- 
esting as  that  which  had  just  transpired,  he  sup- 
posed good  manners  would  require  that  he  should 
treat  the  committee  with  something  to  drink  ; and 
opening  a door  that  led  into  a room  in  the  rear,  he 
called  out  ‘ Mary  ! Mary  ! ’ A girl  responded  to 
the  call,  to  whom  Mr.  Lincoln  spoke  a few  words  in 
an  under-tone,  and,  closing  the  door,  returned  again 
to  converse  with  his  guests.  In  a few  minutes  the 
maiden  entered,  bearing  a large  waiter,  containing 
several  glass  tumblers,  and  a large  pitcher  in  the 
midst,  and  placed  it  upon  the  centre-table.  Mr. 
Lincoln  arose,  and  gravely  addressing  the  company, 
said : ‘ Gentlemen,  we  must  pledge  our  mutual 
healths  in  the  most  healthy  beverage,  which  God 
has  given  to  man  — it  is  the  only  beverage  I have 
ever  used  or  allowed  in  my  family,  and  I cannot 
conscientiously  depart  from  it  on  the  present  occa- 
sion— it  is  pure  Adam’s  ale  from  the  spring;  ’ and, 
taking  a tumbler,  he  touched  it  to  his  lips,  and 
pledged  them  his  highest  respects  in  a cup  of  cold 
water.  Of  course,  all  his  guests  were  constrained 
to  admire  his  consistency,  and  to  join  in  his  ex 


126  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE, 

“ Mr.  R.,  when  he  went  to  Chicago,  had  but 
little  political  sympathy  with  the  Republican  Con- 
vention which  nominated  Mr.  Lincoln ; but  when 
he  saw,  as  he  did  see  for  himself,  his  sturdy  adhe- 
rence to  a high  moral  principle,  he  returned  an 
admirer  of  the  man,  and  a zealous-  advocate  of  his 
election.” 


XLI. 

In  the  July  following  Mr.  Lincoln’s  inaugura- 
tion, an  extra  session  of  Congress  was  called.  In 
the  message  then  sent  in,  speaking  of  secession,  and 
the  measures  taken  by  the  Southern  leaders  to 
bring  it  about,  there  occurs  the  following  sentence : 
“ With  rebellion  thus  sugar-coated , they  have  been 
drugging  the  public  mind  of  their  section  for  more 
than  thirty  years  ; until,  at  length,  they  have 
brought  many  good  men  to  a willingness  to  take 
up  arms  against  the  government,”  etc.  Mr.  De- 
frees,  the  government  printer,  told  me  that,  when 
the  message  was  being  printed,  he  was  a good  deal 
disturbed  by  the  use  of  the  term  “ sugar-coated,  ” 
and  finally  went  to  the  President  about  it.  Their 
relations  to  each  other  being  of  the  most  intimate 
character,  he  told  Mr.  Lincoln  frankly,  that  he 
ought  to  remember  that  a message  to  Congress 
was  a different  affair  from  a speech  at  a mass- 
meeting in  Illinois  ; that  the  messages  became  a 
part  of  history,  and  should  be  written  accordingly. 

“ What  is  the  matter  now  ? ” inquired  the  Presi- 
dent. 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  127 

“ Why,”  said  Mr.  Defrees,  “ you  have  used  an 
undignified  expression  in  the  message  ; ” and  then, 
reading  the  paragraph  aloud,  he  added,  “ I would 
alter  the  structure  of  that,  if  I were  you.” 

“ Defrees,”  replied  Mr.  Lincoln,  “ that  word 
expresses  precisely  my  idea,  and  I am  not  going  to 
chancre  it.  The  time  will  never  come  in  this  coun- 
try  when  the  people  won’t  know  exactly  what  su- 
gar-coated means ! ” 

On  a subsequent  occasion,  Mr.  Defrees  told  me, 
a certain  sentence  of  another  message  was  very 
awkwardly  constructed.  Calling  the  President’s 
attention  to  it  in  the  proof-copy,  the  latter  acknowl- 
edged the  force  of  the  objection  raised,  and  said, 
“ Go  home,  Defrees,  and  see  if  you  can  better  it.” 
The  next  day  Mr.  Defrees  took  in  to  him  his 
amendment.  Mr.  Lincoln  met  him  by  saying : 
“ Seward  found  the  same  fault  that  you  did,  and 
he  has  been  rewriting  the  paragraph  also.”  Then, 
reading  Mr.  Defrees’s  version,  he  said,  “ I believe 
you  have  beaten  Seward  ; bitt,  ‘ I jings,’  I think  I 
can  beat  you  both.”  Then,  taking  up  his  pen,  he 
wrote  the  sentence  as  it  was  finally  printed.” 

Mr.  George  E.  Baker,  Mr.  Seward’s  private 
secretary,  informed  me  that  he  was  much  amused 
and  interested  in  a phase  of  Mr.  Lincoln’s  char- 
acter which  came  under  his  own  observation.  It 
was  Mr.  Baker’s  province  to  take  to  the  Presi- 
dent all  public  documents  from  the  State  Depart- 
ment requiring  his  signature.  During  the  first  few 


128  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

months,  Mr.  Lincoln  would  read  each  paper  care 
fully  through,  always  remarking,  “I  never  sign  a 
document  I have  not  first  read.”  As  his  cares 
increased,  he  at  length  departed  from  his  habit  so 
far  as  to  say  to  the  messenger,  “ Won’t  you  read 
these  papers  to  me  ? ” This  went  on  for  a few 
months,  and  he  then  modified  this  practice  by  re- 
questing “ a synopsis  of  the  contents.”  His  time 
became  more  and  more  curtailed,  and  for  the  las' 
year  his  only  expression  was,  “ Show  me  where 
you  want  my  name  ? ” 

It  is  not  generally  known  that  the  speech  always 
made  by  the  President,  upon  the  presentation  of  s 
foreign  minister,  is  carefully  written  for  him  by  the 
Secretary  of  State.  A clerk  in  the  department, 
ignorant  of  this  custom,  was  one  day  sent  to  the 
White  House  by  Mr.  Seward,  with  the  speech  te 
be  delivered  upon  such  an  occasion.  Mr.  Lincoln 
was  writing  at  his  desk,  as  the  clerk  entered  — a 
half-dozen  senators  and  representatives  occupying 
the  sofa  and  chairs.  Unable  to  disguise  a feeling 
of  delicacy,  in  the  dischai’ge  of  such  an  errand,  the 
young  man  approached,  and  in  a low  voice  said  to 
the  President : “ The  Secretary  has  sent  the  speech 
you  are  to  make  to-day  to  the  Swiss  minister.” 
Mr.  Lincoln  laid  down  his  pen,  and,  taking  the 
manuscript,  said  in  a loud  tone : “ Oh,  this  is  a 
speech  Mr.  Seward  has  written  for  me,  is  it  ? I 
guess  I will  try  it  before  these  gentlemen,  and  see 
how  it  goes.”  Thereupon  he  proceeded  to  read  it, 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  129 


m a waggish  manner,  remarking,  as  he  concluded, 
with  sly  humor  : “ There,  I like  that.  It  has  the 

" i 

merit  of  originality .” 

“Within  a month  after  Mr.  Lincoln’s  first  acces- 
sion to  office,”  says  the  Hon.  Mr.  Raymond,  “ when 
the  South  was  threatening  civil  war,  and  armies 
of  office-seekers  were  besieging  him  in  the  Exec- 
utive  Mansion,  he  said  to  a friend  that  he  wished 
he  could  get  time  to  attend  to  the  Southern  ques- 
tion ; he  thought  he  knew  what  was  wanted,  and 
believed  he  could  do  something  towards  quieting 
the  rising  discontent ; but  the  office  - seekers  de- 
manded all  his  time.  ‘ I am,’  said  he,  ‘ like  a 
man  so  busy  in  letting  rooms  in  one  end  of  his 
house,  that  he  can’t  stop  to  put  out  the  fire  that  is 
burning  the  other.’  Two  or  three  years  later, 
when  the  people  had  made  him  a candidate  for 
reelection,  the  same  friend  spoke  to  him  of  a mem- 
ber of*his  Cabinet  who  was  a candidate  also.  Mr. 
Lincoln  said  he* did  not  concern  himself  much 
about  that.  It  was  important  to  the  country  that 
the  department  over  which  his  rival  presided  should 
be  administered  with  vigor  and  energy,  and  what- 
ever would  stimulate  the  Secretary  to  such  action 

would  do  good.  ‘R ,’  said  he,  ‘you  were 

brought  up  on  a farm,  were  you  not  ? Then  you 
know  what  a chin  fly  is.  My  brother  and  I,’  he- 
added,  ‘ were  once  ploughing  corn  on  a Kentucky 
farm,  I driving  the  horse,  and  he  holding  the 
plough.  The  horse  was  lazy ; but  on  one  occasion 
9 


130  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

rushed  across  the  field  so  that  I,  with  my  long  legs, 
^ could  scarcely  keep  pace  with  him.  On  reaching 
the  end  of  the  furrow,  I found  an  enormous  chin 
fly  fastened  upon  him,  and  knocked  him  off.  My 
brother  asked  me  what  I did  that  for.  I told  him 
I did  n’t  want  the  old  horse  bitten  in  that  way 
“Why,”  said  my  brother,  '•'■that ’s  all  that  madelrim 

go  ! ” Now,’  said  Mr.  Lincoln,  ‘ if  Mr.  . has  a 

presidential  chin  fly  biting  him,  I ’m  not  going 
to  knock  him  off,  if  it  will  only  make  his  depart- 
ment go.’’ 

“ On  another  occasion  the  President  said  he  was 
in  great  distress ; he  had  been  to  General  McClel- 
lan’s house,  and  the  General  did  not  ask  to  see 
him  ; and  as  he  must  talk  to  somebody,  he  had  sent 
for  General  Franklin  and  myself,  to  obtain  our 
opinion  as  to  the  possibility  of  soon  commencing  ac- 
tive operations  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  To 
use  his  own  expression,  if  something  was  not  soon 
done,  the  bottom  would  fall  out  of  the  whole  affair  , 
and  if  General  McClellan  did  not  want  to  use 
the  army,  he  would  like  to  borrow  it,  provided 
he  could  see  how  it  could  be  made  to  do  some- 
thing.” # 

XLII. 

One  bright  morning  in  May,  the  Sunday-school 
children  of  the  city  of  Washington,  marching  in 
, procession  on  anniversary  day,  passed  in  review 
* Raymond’s  life  of  Lincoln. 


• SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  131 

thiough  the  portico  on  the  north  side  of  the  White 
House.  The  President  stood  at  the  open  window 
above  the  door,  responding  with  a smile  and  a bow 
to  the  lusty  cheers  of  the  little  folks  as  they  passed. 
Hon.  Mr.  Odell,  of  Brooklyn,  with  one  or  two 
other  gentlemen,  stood  by  his  side  as  I joined  the 
group.  It  was  a beautiful  sight ; the  rosy-cheeked 
boys  and  girls,  in  their  “ Sunday’s  best,”  with 
banners  and  flowers,  all  intent  upon  seeing  the 
President,  and,  as  they  caught  sight  of  his  tall 
figure,  cheering  as  if  their  very  lives  depended 
upon  it.  After  enjoying  the  scene  for  some  time, 
making  pleasant  remarks  about  a face  that  now 
and.  then  struck  him,  Mr.  Lincoln  said : “ Mrs. 
Ann  S.  Stephens  told  me  a story  last  night  about 
Daniel  Webster,  when  a lad,  which  was  new  to  me, 
and  it  has  been  running  in  my  head  all  the  morn- 
ing.' When  quite  young,  at  school,  Daniel  was  one 
day  guilty  of  a gross  violation  of  the  rules.  He 
was  detected  in  the  act,  and  called  up  by  the 
teacher  for  punishment.  This  was  to  be  the  old- 
fashioned  ‘ feruling  ’ of  the  hand.  His  hands  hap- 
pened to  be  very  dirty.  Knowing  this,  on  his  way 
to  the  teacher’s  desk,  he  spit  upon  the  palm  of 
his  right  hand,  wiping  it  off  upon  the  side  of  hij 
pantaloons.  ‘ Give  me  your  hand,  sir,’  said  the 
teacher,  very  sternly.  Out  went  the  right  hand, 
partly  cleansed.  The  teacher  looked  at  it  a mo- 
ment, and  said,  ‘ Daniel,  if  you  will  find  another 
oand  in  this  school-room  as  filthy  as  that,  I will  let 


132  srx  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


you  off  this  time ! ’ Instantly  from  behind  his 
back  came  the  left  hand.  ‘ Here  it  is,  sir,’  was  the 
ready  reply.  ‘ That  will  do,’  said  the  teacher, 
‘ for  this  time  ; you  can  take  your  seat,  sir.’  ” 

Mr.  Lincoln’s  heart  was  always  open  to  children. 
I shall  never  forget  his  CQming  into  the  “ studio  ” 
one  day,  and  finding  my  own  little  boy  of  two  sum- 
mers playing  on  the  floor.  A member  of  the  Cab- 
inet was  with  him,  but  laying  aside  all  restraint,  he 
took  the  little  fellow  at  once  in  his  arms,  and  they 
were  soon  on  the  best  of  terms. 

C?ld  Daniel  — alluded  to  on  a previous  page 
— gave  me  a touching  illustration  of  this  element 
in  his  character.  A poor  woman  from  Philadel- 
phia had  been  waiting  with  a baby  in  her  arms  for 
several  days  to  see  the  President.  It  appeared  bv 
her  story,  that  her  husband  had  furnished  a sub- 
stitute for  the  army,  but  sometime  afterward,  in 
a state  of  intoxication,  was  induced  to  enlist.  Upon 
reaching  the  post  assigped  his  regiment,  he  de- 
serted, thinking  the  government  was  not  entitled 
to  his  services.  Returning  home,  he  was  arrested, 
tried,  convicted,  and  sentenced  to  be  shot.  The 
sentence  was  to  be  executed  on  a Saturday.  On 
Monday  his  wife  left  her  home  with  her  baby,  to 
endeavor  to  see  the  President.  Said  Daniel,  “ She 
had  been  waiting  here  three  days,  and  there  was 
no  chance  for  her  to  get  in.  Late  in  the  after- 
noon of  the  third  day,  the  President  was  going 
through  the  passage  to  his  private  room  to  get  a 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  138 

cup  of  tea.  On  the  way  he  heard  the  baby  cry. 
He  instantly  went  back  to  his  office  and  rang  the 
bell.  ‘ Daniel,’  said  he,  ‘ is  there  a woman  with  a 
bahy  in  the  anteroom  ? ’ I said  there  was,  and  if 
he  would  allow  me  to  say  it,  it  was  a case  he  ought 
to  see  ; for  it  was  a matter  of  life  and  death.  Said  . 
he,  ‘ Send  her  to  me  at  once.’  She  went  in,  told 
her  story,  and  the  President  pardoned  her  husband. 
As  the  woman  came  out  from  his  presence,  her 
eyes  were  lifted  and  her  lips  moving  in  prayer,  the 
tears  streaming  down  her  cheeks.”  Said  Daniel, 

O 0 

“ I went  up  to  her,  and  pulling  her  shawl,  said, 
Madam,  it  was  the  baby  that  did  it.’  ” 

When  Mr.  Lincoln  visited  New  Y"ork  in  1860, 
he  felt  a great  interest  in  many  of  the  institutions 
for  reforming  criminals  and  saving  the  young  from 
a life  of  crime.  Among  others,  he  visited,  unat- 
tended, the  Five  Points’  House  of  Industry,  and 
the  Superintendent  of  the  Sabbath-school  there 
gave  the  following  account,  of  the  event : — 

“ One  Sunday  morning,  I saw  a tall,  remarkable- 
looking  man  enter  the  room  and  take  a seat  among 
us.  He  listened  with  fixed  attention  to  our  exer- 
cises, and  his  countenance  expressed  such  genuine 
interest  that  I approached  him  and  suggested  that 
he  might  be  willing  to  say  something  to  the  chil- 
dren. He  accepted  the  invitation  with  evident 
pleasure ; and,  coming  forward,  began  a simple 
address,  which  at  once  fascinated  every  little  hearer 
and  hushed  the  room  into  silence.  His  language 


LSI  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


was  strikingly  beautiful,  and  his  tones  musical  with 
intense  feeling.  The  little  faces  would  droop  into 
sad  conviction  as  he  uttered  sentences  of  warning, 
and  would  brighten  into  sunshine  as  he  spoke  cheer- 
ful words  of  promise.  Once  or  twice  he  attempted 
to  close  his  remarks,  but^the  imperative  shout  of 
‘ Go  on  ! Oh,  do  go  on  ! ’ would  compel  him  to 
resume.  As  I looked  upon  the  gaunt  and  sinewy 
frame  of  the  stranger,  and  marked  his  powerful 
head  and  determined  features,  now  touched  into 
softness  by  the  impressions  of  the  moment,  I felt 
an  irrepressible  curiosity  to  learn  something  more 
about  him,  and  while  he  was  quietly  leaving  the 
room  I begged  to  know  his  name.  He  courteously 
replied,  ‘ It  is  Abraham  Lincoln,  from  Illinois.’  ” 
Mr.  Nelson  Sizer,  one  of  the  gallery  ushers  of 
Henry  Ward  Beecher’s  church  in  Brooklyn,  told 
me  that  about  the  time  of  the  Cooper  Institute 
speech,  Mr.  Lincoln  was  twice  present  at  the  morn- 
ing services  of  that  church.  On  the  first  occasion, 
he  was  accompanied  by  his  friend,  George  B.  Lin- 
coln, Esq.,  and  occupied  a prominent  seat  in  the 
centre  of  the  house.  On  a subsequent  Sunday  morn- 
ing, not  long  afterwards,  the  church  was  packed , as 
usual,  and  the  services  had  proceeded  to  the  an- 
nouncement of  the  text,  when  the  gallery  door  at 
the  right  of  the  organ-loft  opened,  and  the  tall 
figure  of  Mr.  Lincoln  entered,  alon?.  Again  in 
the  city  over  Sunday,  he  started  out  by  himself  to 
find  the  church,  which  he  reached  considerably 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


185 


behind  time.  Evei’j  seat  was  occupied ; but  the 
gentlemanly  usher  at  once  surrendered  his  own,  and, 
stepping  back,  became  much  interested  in  watching 
the  effect  of  the  sermon  upon  the  western  orator. 
As  Mr.  Beecher  developed  his  line  of  argument, 
Mr.  Lincoln’s  body  swaged  forward,  his  lips  parted, 
and  he  seemed  at  length  entirely  unconscious  of  his 
surroundings,  — frequently  giving  vent  to  his  satis- 
faction, at  a well-put  point  or  illustration,  with  a 
kind  of  involuntary  Indian  exclamation,  — “ ugh /” 
— not  audible  beyond  his  immediate  presence,  but 
very  expressive  ! Mr.  Lincoln  henceforward  had  a 
profound  admiration  for  the  talents  of  the  famous 
pastor  of  Plymouth  Church.  He  once  remarked 
to  the  Rev.  Henry  M.  Field,  of  New  York,  in  my 
presence,  that  “ he  thought  there  was  not  upon 
record,  in  ancient  or  modern  biography,  so  joroduc-  % 
tive  a mind,  as  had  been  exhibited  in  the  career  of 
Henry  Ward  Beecher  ! ” 


XLIII. 

One  of  Mr.  Lincoln’s  biographers,  speaking  of 
the  relations  which  existed  between  the  President 
and  his  Cabinet,  says  : — 

“ He  always  maintained  that  the  proper  duty  of  each 
Secretary  was  to  direct  the  details  of  everything  done 
.vithin  his  own  department,  and  to  tender  such  sugges- 
tions, information,  and  advice  to  the  President,  as  he 
might  solicit  at  his  hands.  But  the  duty  and  responsi- 


136  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


bility  of  deciding  what  line  of  policy  should  be  pursued, 
or  what  steps  should  be  taken  in  any  specific  case,  in  his 
judgment,  belonged  exclusively  to  the  President ; and 
he  was  always  willing  and  ready  to  assume  it.”  * 

The  suppression  of  a portion  of  Secretary  Came- 
ron’s official  report  for  1861,  is  a case  in  point.  A 
number  of  printed  copies  of  the  report  had  left 
Washington  before  the  “ incendiary  ” passage  was 
observed  by  Mr.  Lincoln.  The  New  York  “ Trib- 
une ” published  it  as  originally  written.  Late  in 
the  evening  of  the  day  that  these  were  sent,  the 
government  printer  took  a copy  to  the  President, 
saying  he  thought  he  ought  to  look  it  over  and  see 
if  it  wfls  satisfactory.  He  stated,  also,  that  a num- 
ber of  copies  of  the  report  had  been  already  ordered 
from  the  printing-office.  Mr.  Lincoln  glanced  over 
,the  copy  placed  in  his  hands,  and  his  eye  rested 
upon  the  passage  in  question,  which  had  reference 
to  arming  the  slaves.  Instantly  he  was  aroused. 
“ This  will  never  do  ! ” said  he.  “ Gen.  Cameron 
must  take  no  such  responsibility.  That  is  a ques- 
tion which  belongs  exclusively  to  me  ! ” Then, 
with  a pencil,  he  struck  out  the  objectionable  clause, 
and  ordered  measures  to  be  taken  at  once  to  sup- 
press the  copies  already  issued.  This  decided  action 
created  considerable  excitemerrt  at  the  time,  as  the 
President’s  policy  in  reference  to  slavery  had  not 
then  been  indicated.  In  the  light  of  subsequent 
history,  it  will  be  regarded  as  striking  evidence  o* 
* Hon.  H.  J.  Raymond. 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  137 


the  caution  with  which  he  felt  his  way  on  this  intri- 
cate and  momentous  question.  In  his  own  language, 
in  the  letter  to  Col.  Hodges,  he  objected,  because 
the  indispensable  necessity  had  not  then  arrived. 
To  Simon  Cameron,  however,  the  honor  will  ever 
belong  of  being  the  first  man  connected  with  the 
Administration  to  strike  an  official  blow  at  the  great 
cause  of  the  war. 

Some  time  after  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run,  Gen- 
eral Patterson,  who  had  been  severely  censured  for 
his  action,  or  want  of  action,  on  that  occasion,  called 
upon  Secretary  Cameron,  and  demanded  an  investi- 
gation of  the  causes  of  the  failure  of  the  campaign. 
After  listening  to  his  statement,  the  Secretary  said 
that  he  would  like  the  President  to  see  the  orders 
and  correspondence,  and  an  interview  was  accord- 
ingly arranged  for  the  same  evening.  The  result 
is  given  in  General  Patterson’s  own  words  : — 

“ I called  at  the  hour  named,  was  most  kindly 
received,  and  read  the  papers,  to  which  the  Presi- 
dent attentively  listened.  When  I had  finished,  Mr. 
Lincoln  said,  in  substance,  4 General,  I have  never 
found  fault  with  you  nor  censured  you  ; I Rave 
never  been  able  to  see  that  you  could  have  done 
anything  else  than  you  did  do.  You  obeyed  orders, 
and  I am  satisfied  with  your  conduct.’  This  was 
said  with  a manner  so  frank,  candid,  and  manly  as 
to  secure  my  respect,  confidence,  and  good-will.  I 
expressed  my  gratification  with  and  sincere  thanks 
for  his  fairness  toward  me,  and  his  courtesy  in 


138 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


hearing  my  case, — giving  me  some  five  hours  o* 
his  time.  I said  that  so  far  as  he  and  the  War  De 
partment  were  concerned  I was  satisfied  ; but  that 
I must  have  a trial  by  my  peers,  to  have  a public 
approval,  and  to  stop  the  abuse  daily  lavished  upon 
me.  The  President  replied  that  he  would  cheer- 
fully accede  to  any  practicable  measure  to  do  me 
justice,  but  that  I need  not  expect  to  escape  abuse 
as  long  as  I was  of  any  importance  or  value  to  the 
community  ; adding  that  he  received  infinitely  more 
abuse  than  I did,  but  that  he  had  ceased  to  regard 
it,  and  I must  learn  to  do  the  same.” 

Although  the  friendly  relations  which  existed 
between  the  President  and  Secretary  Cameron 
were  not  interrupted  by  the  retirement  of  the  lat- 
ter from  the  War  Office,  so  important  a change  in 
the  Administration  could  not  of  course  take  place 
without  the  irrepressible  “story”  from  Mr.  Lincoln. 
Shortly  after  this  event  some  gentlemen  called 
upon  the  President,  and  expressing  much  satisfac- 
tion at  the  change,  intimated  that  in  their  judg- 
ment the  interests  of  the  country  required  an  entire 
reconstruction  of  the  Cabinet.  Mr.  Lincoln  heard 
them  through,  and  then  shaking  his  head  dubiously, 
replied,  with  his  peculiar  smile:  “Gentlemen,  when 
I was  a young  man  I used  to  know  very  well  one 
Joe  Wilson,  who  built  himself  a log-cabin  not 
far  from  where  I lived.  Joe  was  very  fond  of 
eggs  and  chickens,  and  he  took  a good  deal  of  pains 
in  fitting  up  a poultry  shed.  Having  at  length  got 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUS-;  189 


together  a choice  lot  of  young  fowls,  — of  which  he 
was  very  proud,  — he  began  to  be  much  annoyed 
by  the  depredations  of  those  little  black  and  white 
spotted  animals,  which  it  is  not  necessary  to  name. 
One  night  Joe  was  awakened  by  an  unusual  cack- 
ling and  fluttering  among  his  chickens.  Getting 
up,  he  crept  out  to  see  what  was  going  on.  It 
was  a bright  moonlight  night,  and  he  soon  caught 
sight  of  half  a dozen  of  the  little  pests,  which  with 
their  dam  were  running  in  and  out  of  the  shadow 
of  the  shed.  Very  wrathy,  Joe  put  a double 
charge  into  his  old  musket,  and  thought  he  would 
‘ clean  ’ out  the  whole  tribe  at  one  shot.  Somehow 
he  only  killed  one , and  the  balance  scampered  elf 
across  the  field.  In  telling  the  story,  Joe  would 
always  pause  here,  and  hold  his  nose.  ‘ Why 
did  n’t  you  follow  them  up,  and  kill  the  rest  ? ’ 
inquired  the  neighbors.  ‘ Blast  it,’  said  Joe,  ‘ why, 
it  was  eleven  weeks  before  I got  over  killin’  one.' 
If  you  want  any  more  skirmishing  in  that  line  you 
can  just  do  it  yourselves  ! ’ ” 


XLIY. 

The  battle  of  Fair  Oaks  was  fought  May  31, 
1862  ; or,  rather  this  is  the  date  of  the  first  of  the 
series  of  battles  before  Richmond,  when,  as  is 
now  abundantly  established,  even  by  Rebel  testi- 
mony, it  would  have  been  an  easy  matter  for 
McClellan  to  have  captured  what  proved  to  be  the 


140  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

Sebastopol  of  the  Rebellion.  During  these  terri- 
ble battles,  many  of  our  wounded  men  were  sent 
on  steamboats  and  transports  to  White  House 
landing,  upon  the  estate  of  Mrs.  Fitz  Hugh  Lee, 
wife  of  the  Rebel  General.  Prosper  M.  WetmOre, 
of  New  York  city,  was,  at  this  juncture,  on  a visit 
to  the  army.  Very  ill  himself  while  on  the  Penin- 
sula, his  sympathies  were  greatly  excited  for  the 
wounded  soldiers,  confined,  during  the  broiling- 
weather,  to  tire  boats,  compelled  to  quench  the 
burning  thirst  created  by  their  wounds  with  the 
muddy  water  of  the  Pamunkey,  which  caused  and 
aggravated  disease  in  a fearful  manner.  As  a ci- 
vilian, he  was  permitted  to  go  on  shore,  and  there 
found  the  magnificent  .lawns  and  grounds,  including 
one  of  the  finest  springs  of  water  in  the  world,  all 
under  a protective  guard,  set  over  the  property  by 
order  of  the  commanding  genei’al ; and,  while  civil- 
ians like  himself  were  permitted  freely  to  drink  at 
the  spring,  the  suffering  soldiers  were  prohibited 
from  approaching  it ! Mr.  W.’s  indignation  was  so 
greatly  aroused  that,  upon  reaching  Baltimore,  on 
his  return  home,  he,  with  two  other  gentlemen, 
cognizant  of  the  facts,  determined  to  go  to  Wash- 
ington and  lay  the  case  before  the  War  Depart- 
ment. Upon  hearing  their  statement,  the  Secre- 
tary of  War  referred  them  to  Surgeon-Generai 
Hammond,  saying  that  a requisition  from  him,  to 
the  effect  that  the  grounds  of  the  estate  were 
needed  for  the  wounded,  would  be  instantly  re- 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  141 

» 

sponded  to  by  the  War  Department  in  the  issue  of 
the  necessary  order,  taking  possession.  They  im- 
mediately waited  upon  the' Surgeon-General,  and 
procured  the  document  required,  upon  which  Sec- 
retary Stanton  made  out  the  order,  saying,  as  he 
signed  it : Now,  gentlemen,  you  had  better  see 
the.  President  also  about  this  matter,  and  get  his 
indorsement  of  the  order.”  Proceeding  to  the 
Executive  Mansion,  they  found,  as  usual,  the 
waiting-rooms  thronged  with  visitors ; but,  rep- 
resenting to  .the  usher  in  attendance  that  their 
business  was  extremely  urgent,  and  concerned  the 
wounded  of  the  army,  they  were  at  once  shown 
into  Mr.  Lincoln’s  presence.  It  was  late  in  what 
had  perhaps  been  a trying  or  vexatious  day.  Very 
briefly,  but  unceremoniously,  the  object  of  their 

visit  was  stated.  In  the  language  of  Mr.  W , 

The  President  listened  to  the  account  half  impa- 
tiently, saying,  as  the  speaker  concluded,  with  an 
expression  of  countenance  very  like  a sneer,  •*  This 
is  another  raid  upon  McClellan,  I take  it ! ’ ‘ Mr. 

President,’  was  the  reply,  ‘ we  came  here  to  lay 
these  facts  before  you  solely  from  a sense  of  duty. 
Had  I the  power,  sir,  I would  take  possession  of  the 
lawns  in  front  of  this  mansion  for  the  benefit  of  our 
wounded  men,  so  many  of  whom  are  now  dying  on 
the  Pamunkey,  for  want  of  pure  air  and  water. 
After  the  sights  witnessed  upon  those  seven  steam- 
boats now  lying  at  White  House,  I covet  every  spot 
of  greensward  my  eyes  rest  upon.  What  I have 


142  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE 

told  you  of  the  actual  condition  of  things  at  that 
landing  is  below  the  truth,  as  the  gentlemen  who 
accompany  me  will  confirm  to  your  satisfaction. 
For  myself,  allow  me  to  say,  sir,  that  I belong  to 
that  political  organization  which  opposed  your  elec- 
tion to  the  Presidency  — the  same  organization  to 
which  General  McClellan  is  presumed  to  belong. 
This  is  no  raid  upon  him  or  upon  you.  It  is 
simple  justice  to  the  wounded  and  suffering  soldiers 
that  we  ask  of  you.’  Entirely  convinced  by  the 
candor  of  this  reply,  Mr.  Lincoln  then  proceeded  to 
a minute  questioning  in  regard  to  the  scenes  they 
had  witnessed ; and  when  subsequently  told  that 
they  had  called  at  Secretary  Stanton’s  request,  to 
secure  his  approval  of  the  order  issued,  which  em- 
braced only  the  grounds  and  spi’ing,  ‘ Not  only 
these,’  said  he,  with  emphasis,  ‘ but  the  order  must 
include  the  house,  and  everything  else  which  can  in 
any  way  contribute  to  the  comfort  of  the  poor 
boys  ! ’ And  so  the  order  was  made  to  read  before 
it  left  Washington.” 

There  is  scarcely  a parallel  in  history  to  the  for- 
bearance exhibited  by  the  President  toward  Gen- 
eral McClellan.  The  incident  given  above  is  but 
one  illustration  of  his  impatience  with  those  who 
preferred  charges  against  the  “ Commanding  Gen- 
eral.” During  the  last  year  of  his  life,  however, 
in  friendly  conversation,  he  could  not  refrain  some- 
times from  an  impromptu  sarcasm,  nevertheless  so 
blended  with  wit  that  it  must,  one  would  think, 
effectually  disarm  all  resentment. 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  143 

About  two  weeks  after  the  Chicago  Convention, 
the  Rev.  J.  P.  Thompson,  of  New  York,  called 
upon  the  President,  in  company  with  the  Assistant 
Secretary  of  War,  Mr.  Dana.  In  the  course  of 
conversation,  Dr.  T.  said  : “ What  do  you  think, 
Mr.  President,  is  the  reason  General  McClellan 
does  not  reply  to  the  letter  from  the  Chicago  Con- 
vention ? ” “ Oh  ! ” replied  Mr.  Lincoln,  with  a 

characteristic  twinkle  of  the  eye,  “ he  is  intrench- 
ing” 


XLV. 

One  Saturday  afternoon,  when  the  lawn  in  front 
of  the  White  House  was  crowded  with  people  lis- 
tening to  the  weekly  concert  of  the  Marine  Band, 
the  President  appeared  upon  the  portico.  Instantly 
there  was  a clapping  of  hands  and  clamor  for  a 
^speech.  Bowing  his  thanks,  and  excusing  himself, 
.he  stepped  back  into  the  retirement  of  the  circular 
parlor,  remarking  to  me,  with  a disappointed  air,  as 
he  reclined  upon  the  sofa,  “ I wish  they  would  let 
me  sit  out  there  quietly,  and  enjoy  the  music.”  I 
stated  to  him  on  this  occasion,  that  I believed  no 
President,  since  the  days  of  Washington,  ever  se- 
cured the  heai’ts  of  the  people,  and  carried  them 
with  him  as  he  had  done.  To  this  he  replied  that, 
m such  a crisis  as  the  country  was  then  passing 
through,  it  was  natural  that  the  people  should  look 
more  earnestly  to  their  leaders  than  at  other  periods. 
He  thought  their  regard  for  any  man  in  his  position 


144  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


who  should  sincerely  have  done  his  best  to  save  the 
government  from  destruction,  would  have  been 
equally  as  mai’ked  and  expressive^  to  which  I did 
not  by  any  means  assent. 

I do  not  recall  an  instance  of  Mr.  Lincoln’s  ever 
referring  to  any  act  of  his  administration  with  an 
appearance  of  complacency  or  self-satisfaction.  I 
watched  him  closely  during  the  political  excitement 
previous  to  the  Baltimore  Convention,  to  see  if  I 
could  discover  signs  of  personal  ambition,  and  I am 
free  to  say  that,  apart  from  the  welfare  of  the 
country,  there  was  no  evidence  to  show  to  my 
mind  that  he  ever  thought  of  himself.  And  yet 
he  was  very  sensitive  to  the  opinions  of  his  friends. 
A governor  of  a western  State,  true  and  loyal  as 
the  best,  at  a certain  juncture  conceived  himself  for 
some  reason  aggrieved  by  Executive  action.  Hav- 
ing occasion  to  send  in  the  names  of  two  officers  for 
promotion,  he  said,  jn  his  note  to  the  President, 
that  he  hoped  whatever  feeling  he  might  have 
against  him  personally  would  not  prevent  his  doing 
justice  to  the  merits  of  the  officers  in  question. 
Mr.  Lincoln  had  been  utterly  unconscious  of  hav- 
ing given  offence,  either  by  lack  of  appreciation  or 
otherwise,  and  he  seemed  greatly  touched  at  the 
aspersion.  He  said  that,  if  he  had  been  asked  to 
say  which  of  all  the  loyal  governors  had  been  most 
active  and  efficient  in  raising  and  equipping  troops, 
if  he  had  made  any  distinction,  where  all  had  done 
bo  well,  it  would  have  been  in  favor  of  the  gov- 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  145 


ernor  in  question.  At  another  time,  when  several 
conflicting  delegations  were  pressing  the  claims  of 
different  candidates  for  a position  of  importance, 
he  said  that  lie  had  been  so  troubled  about  the 
matter  that  he  had  that  day  refused  to  see  one  of 
the  candidates,  an  old  and  dear  personal  friend,  lest 
his  judgment  should  be  warped.  “If  I was  less 
thin-skinned  about  such  things,”  he  added,  “ I 
should  oet  along  much  better.” 

When  he  had  thought  profoundly,  however,  upon 
certain  measures,  and  felt  sure  of  his  ground,  criti- 
cism, either  public  or  private,  did  not  disturb  him. 
Upon  the  appearance  of  what  was  known  as  the 
“ Wade  and  Davis  manifesto,”  subsequent  to  his 
renomination,  an  intimate  friend  and  supporter, 
who  was  very  indignant  that  such  a document 
should  have  been  put  forth  just  previous  to  the 
presidential  election,  took  occasion  to  animadvert 
very  severely  upon  the  course  that  prompted  it. 
“ It  js  not  worth  fretting  about,”  said  the  Presi- 
dent ; “ it  reminds  me  of  an  old  acquaintance,  who, 
having  a son  of  a scientific  turn,  bought  him  a 
microscope.  The  boy  went  around,  experimenting 
with  his  glass  upon  everything  that  came  in  his 
way.  One  day,  at  the  dinner-table,  his  father  took 
up  a piece  of  cheese.  ‘ Don't  eat  that,  father,’ 
said  the  boy  ; ‘ it  is  full  of  wrigglers.'  ‘ My  son,’ 
replied  the  old  gentleman,  taking,  at  the  same  time, 
a huge  bite,  ‘ let  ’em  wriggle  ; I can  stand  it  if  they 


10 


146  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

No  President  ever  manifested  such  a willingness 
to  receive  and  act  upon  advice  and  suggestions  from 
all  sources,  as  Mr.  Lincoln.  On  a certain  occasion 
a leading  officer  of  the  government,  and  the  gov- 
ernor of  the  State  he  represented,  had  each  a can- 
didate for  a high  State  position.  The  claims  of 
both  were  urged  with  great  strength.  The  Presi- 
dent was  “in  a strait  betwixt  the  two.”  A personal 
friend  from  the  same  State,  to  whom  he  mentioned 
the  difficulty  of  deciding  the  question  without  giving 
offence  to  one  or  the  other  of  the  parties,  suggested 
that  he  appoint  neither  of  the  candidates,  but  bestow 
the  office  upon  a certain  officer  of  the  army  from 
that  State,  who  had  distinguished  himself,  losing  an 
arm  or  a leg  in  the  service,  but  who  had  not  solicited 
in  any  way  the  position.  Mr.  Lincoln  instantly  fell 
in  with  the  idea,  saying  that  it  seemed  to  him  “just 
the  right  thing  to  do;”  and  he  immediately  made 
out  the  nomination.  • 

XLYI. 

Among  the  numerous  visitors  on  one  of  the  Pres- 
ident’s reception  days,  were  a party  of  Congress- 
men, among  whom  was  the  Hon.  Thomas  Shannon, 
of  California.  Soon  after  the  customary  greeting, 
Mr.  Shannon  said  : — 

“ Mr.  President,  I met  an  old  friend  of  yours  in 
California  last  summer,  Thompson  Campbell,  who 
had  a good  deal  to  say  of  your  Springfield  life.” 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  147 


r‘  Ah  ! ” returned  Mr.  Lincoln,  “ I am  glad  to  hear 
nf  him.  Campbell  used  to  be  a dry  .fellow,”  he 
continued.  “ For  a time  he  was  Secretary  of  State. 
One  day,  during  the  legislative  vacation,  a meek, 
cadaverous-looking  man,  with  a white  neck-cloth, 
introduced  himself  to  him  at  his  office,  and,  stating 
that  he  had  been  informed  that  Mr.  C.  had  the 
letting  of  the  Assembly  Chamber,  said  that  he 
wished  to  secure  it,  if  possible,  for  a course  of  lec- 
tures he  desired  to  deliver  in  Springfield.  ‘ May  I 
ask,’  said  the  Secretary,  ‘ what  is  to  be  the  subject 
of  your  lectures  ? ’ ‘ Certainly,’  was  the  reply,  with 

a very  solemn  expression  of  countenance.  ‘ The 
course  I wish  to  deliver,  is  on  the  Second  Coming 
of  our  Lord.’  ‘ It  is  of  no  use,’  said  C.  ‘ If  you 
will  take  my  advice,  you  will  not  waste  your  time 
in  this  city.  It  is  my  private  opinion  that  ifcthe 
Lord  has  been  in  Springfield  once , He  will  not  come 
the  second  time  ! ’ ” 

Representative  Shannon,  previous  to  the  war, 
had  been  an  “ Old  Hunker”  Democrat.  Converted 
by  the  Rebellion,  he  had  gone  to  the  other  ex- 
treme, and  was  one  of  the  radical  Abolitionists  of 
the  Thirty-Eighth  Congress.  The  last  Sunday  in 
May,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Cheever,  of  New  York,  deliv- 
ered one  of  his  most  pungent,  denunciatory  anti- 
slavery discourses,  in  the  Hall  of  the  House  of 
Representatives.  Among  the  numerous  auditors  at- 
tracted by  the  name  of  the  preacher,  I noticed  Mr. 
Shannon,  whose  face  was  not  often  seen  in  church. 


148  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


On  the  way  to  my  hotel,  we  fell  in  together. 
“Well,  S.,”  said  I,  “what  think  you  of  that  style 
of  preaching?”  “It  was  the  first  '■Gospel'  ser- 
mon I ever  heard  in  my  life ! ” was  the  emphatic 
rejoinder. 

One  of  Mr.  Shannon’s  California  colleagues,  the 
lion.  Mr.  Higby,  told  me  that  having  special  busi- 
ness one  evening,  which  called  him  to  the  White 
House,  the  President  came  into  the  office,  dressed 
for  a state  dinner.  In  the  conversation  which 
followed,  holding  up  his  hands,  encased  in  white 
gloves,  he  remarked,  with  a laugh,  that  one  of  his 
Illinois  friends  never  could  see  his  hands  in  that 
“ predicament,”  without  being  reminded  of  “ can- 
vassed hams  ! ” 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  always  ready  to  join  in  a laugh 
at  tj*e  expense  of  his  person,  concerning  which  lie 
was  very  indifferent.  Many  of  his  friends  will 
recognize  the  following  story,  — the  incident  having 
actually  occurred,  — which  he  used  to  tell  with 
great  glee  : — 

“ In  the  days  when  I used  to  be  ‘ on  the  circuit,’ 
I was  once  accosted  in  the  cars  by  a stranger,  who 
said,  ‘ Excuse  me,  sir,  but  I have  an  article  in  my 
possession  which  belongs  to  you.’  ‘How  is  that?’ 
I asked,  considerably  astonished.  The  stranger 
took  a jack-knife  from  his  pocket.  ‘ This  knife,’ 
said  he,  ‘ was  placed  in  my  hands  some  years  ago, 
with  the  injunction  that  I was  to  keep  it  until  I 
found  a man  uglier  than  myself.  I have  carried  it 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  149 


from  that  time  to  this.  Allow  me  now  to  say, 
sir,  that  I think  you  are  fairly  entitled  to  the  prop- 
erty.’ ” 


XLYII. 

I had  been  engaged  in  the  official  chamber  until 
quite  late  one  evening,  upon  some  pencil  studies 
of  accessories,  necessary  to  introduce  in  my  pict- 
ure. The  President,  Mrs.  Lincoln,  and  the  Pri- 
vate Secretaries  had  gone  to  the  opera,  and  for  the 
time  being  I had  undisturbed  possession.  Towards 
twelve  o’clock  I heard  some  persons  enter  the 
sleeping  apartment  occupied  by  Mr.  Nicolay  and 
Major  Hay,  which  was  directly  opposite  the  room 
where  I was  sitting ; and  shortly  afterward  the 
hearty  laugh  of  Mr.  Lincoln  broke  the  stillness, 
proceeding  from  the  same  quarter.  Throwing  aside 
my  work,  I went  across  the  hall  to  see  what  had 
occasioned  this  outbreak  of  merriment.  The  Sec- 
retaries had  come  in  and  Hay  had  retired ; Mr. 
Nicolay  sat  by  the  table  with  his  hoots  off,  and  the 
President  was  leaning  over  the  “ footboard  ” of 
the  bed,  laughing  and  talking  with  the  hilarity  of  a 
schoolboy.  It  seemed  that  Hay,  or  “John,”  as 
the  President  called  him,  had  met  with  a singular 

O 

adventure,  which  was  the  subject  of  the  amuse- 
ment. Glancing  through  the  half-open  door,  Mi. 
Lincoln  caught  sight  of  me,  and  the  story  had  to 
be  repeated  for  my  benefit.  The  incident  was 


150  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


trifling  in  itself,  but  the  President’s  enjoyment  of  it 
was  very  exhilarating.  I never  saw  him  in  so 
frolicsome  a mood  as  on  this  occasion. 

It  has  been  well  said  by  a critic  of  Shakspeare, 
that  “ the  spirit  which  held  the  woe  of  ‘ Lear,’  and 
the  tragedy  of  ‘ Hamlet,’  ‘would  have  broken,  had 
it  not  also  had  the  humor  of  the  ‘ Merry  Wives 
of  Windsor,’  and  the  merriment  of  ‘ Midsummer 
Night’s  Dream.’  ” With  equal  justice  can  this 
profound  truth  be  applied  to  the  late  President. 
The  world  has  had  no  better  illustration  of  it  since 
the  immortal  plays  were -written. 

Mr.  .Lincoln’s  “ laugh  ” stood  by  itself.  The 
“neigh”  of  a wild  horse  on  his  native  prairie  is  not 
more  undisguised  and  hearty.  A group  of  gentle- 
men, among  whom  was  his  old  Springfield  friend  and 
associate,  Hon.  Isaac  N.  Arnold,  were  one  day  con- 
versing in  the  passage  near  his  office,  while  waiting 
admission.  A congressional  delegation  had  pre- 
ceded them,  and  presently  an  unmistakable  voice 
was  heard  through  the  partition,  in  a burst  of 
mirth.  Mr.  Arnold  remarked,  as  the  sound  died 
away : “ That  laugh  has  been  the  President’s 
life-preserver ! ” 

In  a corner  of  his  desk  he  kept  a copy  of  the 
latest  humorous  work  ; and  it  was  his  habit  when 
greatly  fatigued,  annoyed,  or  depressed,  to  take 
this  up  and  read  a chapter,  frequently  with  great 
relief. 

Among  the  callers  in  the  course  of  an  evening 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  151 


which  I well  remember,  was  a party  composed  of 
two  senators,  a representative,  an  ex-lieutenant-gov- 
ernor of  a western  State,  and  several  private  citizens. 
They  had  business  of  great  importance,  involving  the 
necessity  of  the  President’s  examination  of  volumi- 
nous documents.  He  was  at  this  time,  from  an  un- 
usual pressure  of  office-seekers,  in  addition  to  his 
other  cares,  literally  worn  out.  Pushing  everything 
aside,  he  sai  1 to  one  of  the  party  : “ Have  you  seen 
the  ‘ Nasby  Papers’  ? ” “ No,  I have  not,”  was  the 

answer;  “who  is  ‘Nasby?’”  “There  is  a chap 
out  in  Ohio,”  returned  the  President,  “ who  has 
been  writing  a series  of  letters  in  the  newspapers 
over  the  signature  of  ‘ Petroleum  V.  Nasby.’ 
Some  one  sent  me  a pamphlet  collection  of  them 
the  other  day.  I am  going  to  write  to  ‘ Petro- 
leum ’ to  come  down  here,  and  I intend  to  tell  him 
if  he  will  communicate  his  talent  to  me,  I will 
‘ swap  ’ places  with  him.”  Thereupon  he  arose, 
went  to  a drawer  in  his  desk,  and,  taking  out  the 
“ Letters,”  sat  down  and  read  one  to  the  company 
Ending  in  their  enjoyment  of  it  the  temporary  ex- 
citement and  relief  which  another  man  would  have 
found  in  a glass  of  wine.  The  instant  he  ceased, 
the  book  was  thrown  aside,  his  countenance  relapsed 
into  its  habitual  serious  expression,  and  the  business 
before  him  was  entered  upon  with  the  utmost  ear- 
nestness. 

During  the  dark  days  of  ’62,  the  Hon.  Mr. 
A-shley,  of  Ohio,  had  occasion  to  call  at  the  White 


152  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE 


House  early  one  morning,  just  after  news  of  a dis- 
aster. Mr.  Lincoln  commenced  some  trifling  nar- 

,o 

ration,  to  which  the  impulsive  congressman  was  in 
no  mood  to  listen.  He  rose  to  his  feet  and  said  : 
“ Mr.  President,  I did  not  come  here  this  morning 
to  hear  stories  ; it  is  too  serious  a time.”  Instantly 
the  smile  faded  from  Mr.  Lincoln’s  face.  “ Ash-, 
ley,”  said  he,  “ sit  down  ! I respect  you  as  an 
earnest,  sincere  man.  You  cannot  be  more  anxious 
than  I have  been  constantly  since  the  beginning  of 
the  war ; and  I say  to  you  now,  that  were  it  not 
for  this  occasional  vent,  I should  die.” 


XLYIII. 

About  the  first  of  June  I received  a call  from 
the  Hon.  Horace  Greeley,  who  was  temporarily  in 
Washington.  Very  near-sighted,  his  comments 
upon  my  work,  then  about  half  completed,  were  not 
particularly  gratifying.  He  thought  the  steel  like- 
nesses in  his  book,  “ The  American  Conflict,”  were 
much  better.  I called  his  attention,  among  other 
points,  to  a newspaper  introduced  in  the  foreground 
of  the  picture,  “symbolizing,”  I said,  “the  agency 
of  the  ‘Press’  in  bringing  about  Emancipation ; ” 
— stating,  at  the  same,  time,  that  this  accessory  was 
studied  from  a copy  of  the  “Tribune.”  Upon  this 
his  face  relaxed  ; — “I  would  not  object,”  said  he, . 
“ to  your  putting  in  my  letter  to  the  President  on 
that  subject.” 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  153 

Knowing  that  he  had  not  been  friendly  to  the 
renomination  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  it  occurred  to  me,  in 
my  simplicity,  that  if  I could  bring  them  together, 
an  interview  might  result  in  clearing  up  what  was, 
perhaps,  a mutual  misunderstanding  of  relative 
positions,  — though  I had  never  known  Mr.  Lin- 
coln to  mention  the  name  of  the  editcr  of  the 
“ Tribune,”  otherwise  than  with  profound  respect. 
Leaving  my  visitor  in  front  of  the  picture,  I went 
to  the  President’s  office  to  inform  him  of  the  pres- 
ence of  Mr.  G.  in  the  house,  thinking  that  he 
might  deem  it  best,  under  the  circumstances,  to  re- 
ceive him  below  stairs.  In  this,  however,  I “ reck- 
oned without  my  host.”  He  looked  up  quickly,  as 
I mentioned  the  name,  but  recovering  himself,  said, 
with  unusual  blandness:  “ Please  say  to  Mr.  Gree- 
ley that  I shall  be  very  happy  to  see  him,  at  his 
leisure .” 

I have  been  repeatedly  asked  to  what  extent  Mr. 
Lincoln  read  the  newspapers.  It  might  have  damp- 
ened the  patriotic  ardor  of  many  ambitious  editors, 
could  they  have  known  that  their  elaborate  disquisi- 
tions, sent  in  such  numbers  to  the  White  House,  were 
usually  appropriated  by  the  servants,  and  rarelv, 
or  never,  reached  the  one  they  were  preeminently 
intended  to  enlighten  as  to  his  duty  and  policy.  I 
recollect  of  but  a single  instance  of  newspaper  read- 
ing on  the  part  of  the  President,  during  the  entire 
period  of  my  intercourse  with  him.  One  evening, 
having  occasion  to  go  to  the  Private  Secretary's 


154  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


office,  supposing  the  rooms  to  be  vacant,  I came 
upon  Mr.  Lincoln,  seated  quietly  by  himself,  for 
once  engaged  in  looking  over  the  contents  of  a 
journal,  which  he  had  casually  taken  up. 

The  Washington  dailies,  — the  “ Chronicle,” 
“Republican,”  and  “Star,” — were  usually  laid 
upon  his  table,  and  I think  he  Avas  in  the  habit  of 
glancing  at  the  telegraphic  reports  of  these  ; but 
rarely  beyond  this.  All  war  news  of  importance, 
of  course,  reached  him  previous  to  its  publication. 
He  had,  therefore,  little  occasion  to  consult  news- 
papers on  this  account.  The  Private  Secretaries, 
however,  usually  kept  him  informed  of  the  principal 
subjects  discussed  editorially  in  tbe  leading  organs 
of  the  country. 

The  journals  I became  most  familiar  with,  in  the 
Secretaries’  quarters,  besides  those  mentioned,  Avere 
the  Philadelphia  “Press”  and  “North  American 
the  Baltimore  “ American  ” and  “ Sun  ; ” the  New 
York  “ Tribune,”  “Evening  Post,”  “Independent,” 
“Times,”  “Herald,”  and  “World;”  the  Albany 
“ Evening  Journal ; ” tbe  Boston  “ Advertiser,” 
“Journal,”  and  “Transcript;”  the  Chicago  “ Trib- 
une ” and  “ Journal,”  (the  latter  valued  chiefly  for 
the  letters  of  its  Avar  correspondent,  B.  F.  Taylor)  ; 
the  St.  Louis  “ Republican  ” and  “ Democrat ; ” 
and  the  Cincinnati  “ Gazette  ” and  “ Commercial.” 

Violent  criticism,  attacks,  and  denunciations,  com- 
ing either  from  radicals  or  conservatives,  rarely 
ruffled  the  President,  if  they  reached  his  ears.  It 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  155 


must  liave  been  in  connection  with  something  of 
this  kind,  that  lie  once  told  me  this  story.  “ Some 
years  ago,”  said  he,  “ a couple  of  ‘ emigrants,’ 
fresh  from  the  ‘ Emerald  Isle,’  seeking  labor,  were 
making  their  way  toward  the  West.  Coming 
suddenly,  one  evening,  upon  a pond  of  water,  they 
were  greeted  with  a grand  chorus  of  bull-frogs,  — 
a kind  of  music  they  had  never  before  heard. 
‘ B-a-u-m  ! ’ — ‘ B-a-u-m  ! ’ Overcome  with  ter- 
ror, they  clutched  their  ‘ shillelahs,’  and  crept  cau- 
tiously forward,  straining  their  eyes  in  every  direc- 
tion, to  catch  a glimpse  of  the  enemy ; but  he  was 
not  to  be  found ! At  last  a happy  idea  seized  the 
foremost  one,  — he  sprang  to  his  companion  and 
exclaimed,  ‘ And  sure,  Jamie  ! it  is  my  opinion  it’s 
nothing  but  a “ noise  ! ” ’ ” 

On  a certain  occasion,  the  President  was  induced 
by  a committee  of  gentlemen  to  examine  a newly 
invented  “repeating”  gun ; the  peculiarity  of  which 
was,  that  it  prevented  the’  escape  of  gas.  After 
due  inspection,  he  said  Well,  I believe  this  really 
does  what  it  is  represented  to  do.  Now  have  any 
of  you  heard  of  any  machine,  or  invention,  for  pre- 
venting the  escape  of  ‘ gas  ’ from  newspaper  estab- 
lishments ? ” 

One  afternoon  he  came  into  the  studio,  while 
Mrs.  Secretary  Welles  and  a party  of  friends  were 
viewing  the  picture.  Mrs.  Welles  said  that  she 
“understood  from  the  newspapers  that  the  work 
was  nearly  completed  ; which  appeared  to  be  far 


156  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

from  the  truth.”  In  reply,  I made  the  common 
place  remark,  that  the  “ papers  ” were  not  always 
“reliable.”  “ That  is  to  say,  Mrs.  Welles,”  broke 
in  the  President,  “they  ‘ lie,'  and  then  they  ‘re- 
lie ! 

A t one  of  the  “ levees,”  in  the  winter  of  1864, 

during  a lull  in  the  hand-shaking,  Mr.  Lincoln  was 
© ©7 

addressed  by  two  lady  friends,  one  of  whom  is  the 
wife  of  a gentleman  subsequently  called  into  the 
Cabinet.  Turning  to  them  with  a weary  air,  he 
remarked  that  it  was  a relief  to  have  now  and  then 
those  to  talk  to  who  had  no  favors  to  ask.  The 
lady  referred  to  is  a radical,  — a New  Yorker  by 
birth,  but  for  many  years  a resident  of  the  West. 
She  replied,  playfully,  “ Mr.  President,  I have  one 
request  to  make.”  “Ah  ! ” said  he,  at  once  looking 
grave.  “ Well,  what  is  it?  ” “ That  you  suppress 

the  infamous  ‘Chicago  Times,’  ” was  the  rejoinder. 
After  a brief  pause,  Mr.  Lincoln  asked  her  if  she 
nad  ever  tried  to  imagine  how  she  would  have  felt, 
in  some  former  administration  to  which  she  was 
opposed,  if  her  favorite  newspaper  had  been  seized 
by  the  government,  and  suppressed.  The  lady 
replied  that  it  was  not  a parallel  case ; that  in 
circumstances  like  those  then  existing,  when  the 
nation  was  struggling  for  its  very  life,  such  utter- 
ances as  were  daily  put  forth  in  that  journal  should 
be  suppressed  by  the  strong  hand  of  authority ; that 
the  cause  of  loyalty  and  good  government  demanded 
it.  “ I fear  you  do  not  fully  comprehend,”  returned 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  157 

the  President,  “ the  danger  of  abridging  the  liber- 
ties of  the  people.  Nothing  but  the  very  sternest 
necessity  can  ever  justify  it.  A government  had 
better  go  to  the  very  extreme  of  toleration,  than 
to  do  aught  that  could  be  construed  into  an  inter- 
ference with*  or  to  jeopardize  in  any  degree,  the 
common  rights  of  its  citizens.” 


XLIX. 

A morning  or  two  after  the  visit  of  Mr.  Greeley, 
1 was  called  upon  by  a gentleman,  who  requested 
my  assistance  in  securing  a brief  interview  with 
the  President,  for  the  purpose  of  presenting  him 
with  an  elaborate  pen-and-ink  “ allegorical,  sym- 
bolic ” representation  of  the  “ Emancipation  Proc- 
lamation ; ” which,  in  a massive  carved  frame,  had 
been  purchased  at  a recent  “ Sanitary  Fair,”  in 
one  of  the  large  cities,  by  a committee  of  gentle- 
men, expressly  for  this  object.  The  composition 
contained  a tree,  representing  Liberty  ; a portrait 
of  Mr.  Lincoln  ; soldiers,  monitors,  broken  fetters, 
etc.  ; together  with  the  text  of  the  proclamation, 
all  executed  with  a pen.  Artistically  speaking, 
such  works  have  no  value,  — they  are  simply 
interesting,  as  curiosities.  Mr.  Lincoln  kindly 
accorded  the  desired  opportunity  to  make  the 
presentation,  which  occupied  but  a few  moments, 
and  was  in  the  usual  form.  He  accepted  the 
testimonial,  he  said,  not  for  himself,  but  in  be- 


158  SIX  M0N1HS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


half  of  “ the  cause  in  which  all  were  engaged.” 
When  the  group  dispersed,  I remained  with  the 
President.  He  returned  to  his  desk  ; while  I ex- 
amined curiously  the  pen  work,  which  was 
exceedingly  minute  in  detail.  “ This  is  quite  won- 
derful ! ” I said,  at  length.  Mr.  Lincoln  looked  up 
from  his  papers  ; “ Yes,”  he  rejoined  ; “ it  is 
what  I call  ingenious  nonsense  ! ” 

The  evening  following  this  affair,  on  entering  the 
President’s  office,  about  eleven  o’clock,  I found 
him  alone,  seated  at  the  long  table,  with  a large 
pile  of  military  commissions  before  him,  which  he 
was  signing  one  by  one.  As  I sat  down  beside  him, 
he  presently  remarked,  “ I do  not,  as  you  see, 
pretend  to  read  over  these  documents.  I see  that 
Stanton  has  signed  them,  so  I conclude  they  are 
all  right.”  Pausing  here,  he  read  a portion  of  one, 
beginning;  with  the  name  of  the  individual,  “ 

O O ^ ' 

is  hereby  appointed  adjutant-general,  with  the 

rank  of  captain,  etc.  E.  M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of 
War.”  “There,”  said  he,  appending  his  own  sig- 
nature in  the  opposite  corner ; “ that  fixes  him 
out.”  Thus  he  went  on  chatting  and  writing, 
until  he  had  finished  the  lot  ; then,  rising  from  his 
chair,  he  stretched  himself,  and  said,  “Well,  I 
have  got  that  job  husked  out-;  now  I guess  I 
.will  go  over  to  the  War  Department  before  I go 
to  bed,  and  see  if  there  is  any  news.  Walking 
over  with  him  at  his  request,  — to  divert  his  mind, 
I repeated  a story  told  me  the  night  previous  con- 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  159 


eerning  a ‘ contraband  ’ who  had  fallen  into  the 
hands  of  some  good  pious  people,  and  was  being 
taught  by  them  to  read  and  prav.  Going  off  by 
himself  one  day,  he  was  overheard  to  commence  a 
prayer  by  the  introduction  of  himself  as  “ Jim 
Williams  — a berry  good  nigga’  to  wash  windows; 
’spec’s  you  know  me  now  ? ’ ” 

An  amusing  illustration  of  the  fact  that  whatever 
the  nature  of  an  incident  related  to  the  President, 
it  never  failed  to  remind  him  of  something 
similar,  followed.  After  a hearty  laugh  at  what 
he  called  this  “ direct  way  of  putting  the  case,” 
he  said  : “ The  story  that  suggests  to  me,  has  no 
resemblance  to  it  save  in  the  ‘ washing  windows  ’ 
part.  A lady  in  Philadelphia  had  a pet  poodle  dog, 
which  mysteriously  disappeared.  Rewards  were 
offered  for  him,  and  a great  ado  made  without 
effect.  Some  weeks  passed,  and  all  hope  of  the 
favorite’s  return  had  been  given  up,  when  a servant 
brought  him  in  one  day,  in  the  filthiest  condition 
imaginable.  The  lady  was  overjoyed  to  see  her  pet 
again,  but  horrified  at  his  appearance.  ‘ Where 
did  you  find  him?’  she  exclaimed.  ‘Oh,’  replied 
the  man,  very  unconcernedly,  ‘ a negro  down  the 
street  had  him  tied  to  the  end  of  a pole,  swab- 
bing windows.’  ” 


160  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


L. 

A day  or  two  previous  to  the  meeting  of  the 
Republican  Convention,  the  President  read  me  liis 
letter  to  the  “ Owen  Lovejoy  Monument  Associa- 
tion,”— lately  written,  and  not  then  published,  --in 
which  he  expressed  his  appreciation  of  Mr.  Lovejoy 
in  nearly  the  same  language  I had  heard  him  use 
on  a former  occasion.  “ Throughout  my  heavy 
and  perplexing  responsibilities  here,”  ran  the  letter, 
“ to  the  day  of  his  death,  it  would  scarcely  wrong 
any  other  to  say  he  was  my  most  generous  friend. 
Let  him  have  the  marble  monument,  along  with 
the  well  assured  and  more  enduring  one  in  the 
hearts  of  those  who  love  liberty  unselfishly  for  all 
men.”  A noble  tribute,  in  fitly  chosen  words  ! 

The  evening  following  the  reading  of  this  letter, 
he  said  that  Mrs.  Lincoln  and  he  had  promised 
half  an  hour  to  a sort  of  “ artist  ” who  wished  to 
“exhibit”  before  them  in  the  red-room  below. 
“ What  kind  of  an  artist?  ” I inquired.  “ Oh,  not 
in  your  line,”  he  answered  ; “ I think  he  is  a sort 
of  mountebank,  or  comic  lecturer,  or  something 
of  the  kind.”  On  my  way  to  my  own  room, 
I met  in  the  passage  the  well-known  “ Jeems 
Pipes  of  Pipesville,”  — otherwise  Stephen  Mas- 
sett,  — whom  I at  once  conjectured  to  be  the  indi- 
vidual the  President  had  referred  to.  The  two 
rooms  communicating  by  double  doors,  I could  not 
well  avoid  overhearing  a portion  of  the  perform- 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE-  WHITE  HOUSE.  161 


aiice,  or  more  properly  lecture,  which  I think  was 
announced  by  the  title  of  “ Drifting  About.” 
Comic  imitations  of  various  characters  were  given, 
among;  others  that  of  a stammering  man,  which 
appeared  greatly  to  amuse  Mr.  Lincoln.  I could 
only  now  and  then  catch  a word  of  the  burlesque, 
but  the  voice  and  ringing  laugh  of  the  President 
were  perfectly  distinguishable.  When  the  “lecture” 
ceased,  Mr.  Lincoln  said,  “I  want  to  offer  a su<?- 
gestion.  I once  knew  a man  who  invariably  ‘ whis- 
tled ’ with  his  stammering,”  and  he  then  gave  an 
imitation.  “Now,”  he  continued,  “if  you  could 
get  in  a touch  of  nature  like  that  it  would  be 
irresistibly  ludicrous.”  “Pipes”  applauded  the 
amendment,  rehearsing  it  several  times,  until  he 
had  mastered  it  to  the  President’s  satisfaction  ; and 
I dare  say  the  innovation  became  a part  of  all  sub- 
sequent performances. 

About  this  period  numerous  delegations  from 

various  religious  bodies  and  associations  thronged 

© 

the  White  House.  Among  the  number  none  met 
so  cordial  a reception  as  that  of  the  “ Christian 
Commission,  ’ composed  of  volunteer  clergymen 
who  had  just  returned  from  the  Wilderness  battle- 
ground. In  the  brief  address  by  the  chairman  of 
the  occasion,  he  stated  that  the  group  before  the 
President  embraced  those  who  had  been  first  on 
the  field  to  offer  aid  and  refreshments  to  the 
wounded  of  that  terrible  series  of  battles.  In  re- 
ply Mr.  Lincoln  expressed  his  appreciation  of  the 
n 


162  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

self-denying  services  rendered  by  the  Commis- 
sion, in  feeling  terms.  He  concluded  Ins  response 
in  these  words  :■  “ And  I desire  also  to  add  to  what 
I have  said,  that  there  is  one  association  whose 
object  and  motives  I have  never  heard  in  any  de- 
gree impugned  or  questioned  ; and  that  is  the 
‘ Christian  Commission.*  And  in  ‘ these  days  of 
villany,’  as  Shakspeare  says,  that  is  a record, 
gentlemen,  of  which  you  may  justly  be  pi’oud ! ” 
Ui  Don  the  conclusion  of  the  “ceremony,”  he  added, 
in  a conversational  tone,  “ I believe,  however,  it  is 
old  ‘Jack  Falstaft”  who  talks  about  ‘villany,’ 
though  of  course  Shakspeare  is  responsible.” 

After  the  customary  hand-shaking,  which  fol- 
lowed, several  gentlemen  came  forward  and  asked 
the  President  for  his  autograph.  One  of  them  gave 
his  name  as  “ Cruikshank.”  “ That  reminds  me,” 
said  Mr.  Lincoln,  “ of  what  I used  to  be  called 
when  a young  man  — ‘ long-shanks.’  ” Hereupon 
the  rest  of  the  party,  emboldened  by  the  success 
of  the  few,  crowded  around  the  desk,  and  the  Pres- 
ident good  naturedly  wrote  his  name  for  each  ; the 
scene  suggesting  forcibly  to  my  mind  a country 
schoolmaster’s  weekly  distribution  of  “ tickets  ” 
among  his  pupils. 


LI. 

The  “ Baltimore  Convention,”  which  renomi- 
nated Mr.  Lincoln,  was  convened  June  7,  1864 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  163 

It  created  comparatively  little  excitement  in  Wash- 
ington or  elsewhere,  as  the  action  of  the  various 
State  legislatures  and  local  mass  meetings  had  pre- 
pared the  public  mind  for  the  result. 

Toward  evening  of  the  8th,  — the  day  the  nomi- 
nations were  made,  — Major  Hay  and  myself  were 
alone  with  the  President  in  his  office.  He  did  not 
seem  in  any  degree  exhilarated  by  the  action  of  the 
convention  ; on  the  contrary,  his  manner  was  sub- 
dued, if  not  sad.  Upon  the  lighting  of  the  gas,  he 
told  us  how  he  had  that  afternoon  received  the 
news  of  the  nomination  for  Vice-President  before 
he  heard  of  his  own.  It  appeared  that  the  de- 
spatch announcing  his  renomination  had  been  sent 
to  his  office  from  the  War  Department  while  he 
was  at  lunch.  Afterward,  without  going  back  to 
the  official  chamber,  he  proceeded  to  the  War  De- 
partment. While  there,  the  telegram  came  in 
announcing  the  nomination  of  Johnson.  “ What ! ” 
said  he  to  the  operator,  “ do  they  nominate  a Vice- 
President  before  they  do  a President  ? ” “ Why ! ” 

rejoined  the  astonished  official,  “ have  you  not 
heard  of  your  own  nomination  ? It  was  sent  to 
the  White  House  two  hours  ago.”  “ It  is  all 
tight,”  was  the  reply;  “I  shall  probably  find  it 
on  mv  return.” 

Laughing  pleasantly  over  this  incident,  he  said, 
soon  afterward,  — “A  very  singular  occurrence  took 
place  the  day  I _ was  nominated  at  Chicago,  foui 
pears  ago,  of  which  I am  reminded  to-night.  In 


164  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

the  afternoon  of  the  day,  returning  home  from 
down  town,  I went  up-stairs  to  Mrs.  Lincoln’s 
sitting-room.  Feeling  somewhat  tired,  I lay  down 
upon  a couch  in  the  room,  directly  opposite  a bureau 
upon  which  was  a looking-glass.  As  I reclined, 
my  eye  fell  upon  the  glass,  and  I saw  distinctly  two 
images  of  myself,  exactly  alike,  except  that  one  was 
a little  paler  than  the  other.  I arose,  and  lay  down 
again,  witft  the  same  result.  It  made  me  quite 
uncomfortable  for  a few  moments,  but  some  friends 
coming  in,  the  matter  passed  out  of  my  mind.  The 
next  day,  while  walking  in  the  street,  I was  sud- 
denly reminded  of  the  circumstance,  and  the  disa- 
greeable sensation  produced  by  it  returned.  I had 
never  seen  anything  of  the  kind  before,  and  did  not 
know  what  to  make  of  it.  I determined  to  go 
home  and  place  myself  in  the  same  position,  and  if 
the  same  effect  was  produced,  I would  make  up  my 
mind  that  it  was  the  natural  result  of  some  principle 
of  refraction  or  optics  which  I did  not  understand, 
and  dismiss  it.  I tried  the  experiment,  with  a like 
result ; and,  as  I had  said  to  myself,  accounting  for 
it  on  some  principle  unknown  to  me,  it  ceased  to 
trouble  me.  But,”  said  he,  “ some  time  ago,  I 
tried  to  produce  the  same  effect  here , by  arranging 
a glass  and  couch  in  the  same  position,  without 
success.”  He  did  not  say,  at  this  time,  that  either 
he  or  Mrs.  Lincoln  attached  any  omen  to  the  phe- 
nomenon ; neither  did  he  say . that  the  double 
reflection  was  seen  while  he  was  walking  about  the 

cT 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  165 

room.  On  the  contrary,  it  was  only  visible  in  si 
certain  position  and  at  a certain  angle  ; and  there- 
fore, he  thought,  could  be  accounted  for  upon  scien- 
tific principles.* 

A little  later  in  the  evening,  the  Hon.  Mr.  Kel- 
ley, of  Philadelphia,  came  in.  As  he  sat  down,  he 
took  a letter  out  of  his  pocket,  saying  : “ Mr.  Presi- 
dent, while  on  a visit  home,  a week  or  two  ago,  I 
took  up  a number  of  the  “Anti-Slavery  Standard,” 
in  which  there  happened  to  be  a communication 
from  Mrs.  Caroline  H.  Dali,  of  Boston,  giving 
her  views  of  the  Fremont  movement,  and  the 
situation  generally  ; so  admirable  in  its  tone  and 
spirit,  that  I could  not  resist  the  inclination  to  write 
to  the  author,  expressing  the  interest  with  which  I 
had  read  the  article.  The  result  was  a rgply,  which 
I hold  in  my  hand,  which  seems  to  me  so  just  and 
able  a statement  of  your  position,  from  the  stand- 
point of  a true  woman,  that  I have  brought  it  up  to 
read  to  you.”  Mr.  Lincoln  nodded  assent,  and  lis- 


* Mr.  Lincoln's  friend  Brooks,  of  the  Sacramento  Union,  has  given 
to  the  public  a somewhat  different  version  of  this  story,  placing  its 
occurrence  on  the  day  of  the  election  in  I860.  The  account,  as  I 
have  given  it,  was  written  before  I had  seen  that  by  Mr.  Brooks,  and 
is  very  nearly  as  Hay  and  myself  heard  it, — the  incident  making  a 
powerful  impression  upon  my  mind.  I am  quite  confident  that  Mr. 
Lincoln  said  it  occurred  the  day  he  was  first  nominated;  for  li6 
related  it  to  us  a few  hours  after  having  received  intelligence  of  his 
renomination,  saying,  “ I am  reminded  of  it  to-night.”  It  is  possible, 
however,  that  I am  mistaken  in  the  date.  Mr.  Brooks’s  statement 
*hal  "Mrs.  Lincoln”  was  “troubled”  about  it,  regarding  it  as  a “sign 
that  Mr.  Lincoln  would  be  reelected,  but  would  not  live  through  hi* 
•ecoud  term,”  is  undoubtedly  correct. 


166  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


tenecl  pensively  to  the  eloquent  tones  of  the  Con- 
gressman’s voice,  who  entered  into  the  spirit  of  the 
letter  with  his  whole  heart,  — affirming,  as  it  did, 
unwavering  confidence  in  the  President ; the  sin- 
cei’ity  of  his  anti-slavery  convictions  and  purposes  ; 
and  appreciation  of  the  difficulties  which  had  en- 
vironed him,  — presenting,  in  this  respect,  a marked 
contrast  to^  the  letters  and  speeches  of  many  of  the 
so-called  radicals.  Mr.  Lincoln  said  but  little, 
as  Judge  Kelley  concluded ; but  one  or  two  ex- 
pressions, and  the  manner  accompanying  them, 
showed  that  the  sentiments  of  the  writer  of  the 
letter  were  gratefully  appreciated. 

The  day  following  the  adjournment  at  Baltimore, 
various  political  organizations  called  to  pay  their 
respects  to  J;he  President.  First  came  the  Conven- 
tion Committee,  embracing  one  from  each  State  rep- 
resented,— appointed  to  announce  to  him,  formally, 
the  nomination.  Next  came  the  Ohio  delegation, 
with  Menter’s  Band,  of  Cincinnati.  Following 
these  were  the  representatives  of  the  National 
Union  League,  to  whom  he  said,  in  concluding  his 
brief  response  : — 

“ I do  not  allow  myself  to  suppose  that  either 
the  Convention,  or  the  League,  have  concluded  to 
decide  that  I am  either  the  greatest  or  the  best  man 
in  America  ; but,  rather,  they  have  concluded  that 
it  is  not  best  to  swap  horses  while  crossing  the 
river,  and  have  further  concluded  that  I am  not  so 
poor  a horse,  but  that  they  might  make  a botc^ 
of  it  in  trying  to  swap  ! ” 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  167 

Another  incident,  which  occurred  in  the  course 
of  the  day,  created  considerable  amusement.  When 
the  Philadelphia  delegation  was  being  presented, 
the  chairman  of  that  body,  in  introducing  one  of 
the  members,  said : “ Mr.  President,  this  is  Mr. 

S , of  the  Second  District  o"f  our  State,  — 

a most  active  and  earnest  friend  of  yours  and  the 
cause.  He  has,  among  other  things,  been  good 
enough  to  paint,  and  present  to  our  League  rooms, 
a most  beautiful  portrait  of  yourself.”  Mr.  Lincoln 
took  the  gentleman’s  hand  in  his,  and  shaking  it 
cordially,  said  with  a merry  voice,  — “I  presume, 
sir,  in  painting  your  beautiful  portrait,  you  took 
your  idea  of  me  from  my  principles,  and  not  from 
my  person.” 

Among  the  visitors,  the  same  afternoon,  were 
William  Lloyd  Garrison  and  Theodore  Tilton.  In 
the  “ Editorial  Notes,”  concerning  the  convention 
and  nominations,  in  his  newspaper,  the  New  York 
“ Independent,”  the  following  week,  Mr.  Tilton 
wrote : — 

te  On  his  reception  day,  the  President’s  face  wore 
an  expression  of  satisfaction  rather  than  elation. 
His  reception  of  Mr.  Garrison  was  an  equal  honor 
to  host  and  guest.  In  alluding  to  our  failure  to 
find  the  jold  jail,  he  said,  — ‘Well,  Mr.  Garrison, 
when  you  first  went  to  Baltimore  you  could  n’t  get 
out ; but  the  second  time  you  could  n’t  get  in ! ’ 
When  one  of  us  mentioned  the  great  enthusiasm  at 
the  convention,  after  Senator  Morgan  s proposition 


168  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  AVI1ITE  HOUSE. 

to  amend  the  Constitution,  abolishing  slavery,  Mr. 
Lincoln  instantly  said,  — ‘It  was  I who  sumrested 
to  Mr.  Morgan  that  he  should  put  that  idea  into  his 
opening  speech.’  This  was  the  very  best  \yord  lie 
has  said  since  the  proclamation  of  freedom.” 

LII. 

I have  alluded,  on  a previous  page,  to  the  public 
concerts  of  the  Marine  Band, — from  the  Wash- 
ington Navy-yard, — given  every  Saturday  after- 
noon, during  the  summer,  on  the  grounds  in  front 
of  the  White  House  ; which,  on  such  occasions,’ 
were  thronged  with  visitors.  The  Saturday  follow- 
ing the  nominations  I invited  my  friend  Cropsey, 
the  landscape-painter,  from  New  York,  — who,  with 
his  wife,  was  spending  a few  days  in  the  city,  — to 
come  up  with  Mrs.  C.  to  the  studio,  which  over- 
looked the  pleasure-grounds,  and  presented  a.  fine 
opportunity  of  enjoying  both  spectacle  and  music. 
The  invitation  was  accepted,  and  the  afternoon  was 
devoted  to  my  guests. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  concert  the  door  sud- 
denly opened,  and  the  President  came  in,  as  he 
was  in  the  habit  of  doing,  alone.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cropsey  had  been  presented  to  him  in  the  course 
of  the  morning ; and  as  he  came  forward,  half 
Hesitatingly,  Mrs.  C.,  who  held  a bunch  of  beauti- 
ful flowers  in  her  hand,  tripped  forward  playfully, 
and  said  : “ Allow  me,  Mr.  President,  to  jDresent 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


169 


you  with  a bouquet ! ” The  situation  was  momen- 
tarily embarrassing ; and  I was  puzzled  to  know 
how  “ His  Excellency  ” would  get  out  of  it.  With 
no  appearance  of  discomposure,  he  stooped  down, 
took  file  flowers,  and,  looking  from  them  into  the 
sparkling  eyes  and  radiant  face  of  the  lady,  said, 
with  a gallantry  I was  unprepared  for,  — “ Really, 
madam,  if  you  give  them  to  me,  and  they  are  mine , 

I think  I cannot  possibly  make  so  good  a use  of 
them  as  to  present  them  to  you,  in  return  ! ” 
Chesterfield  could  not  have  extricated  himself  from 
the  dilemma  with  more  tact  and  address ; and  the 
incident,  trifling  in  itself,  may  serve  to  illustrate 
that  there  existed  in  the  ci-devant  “ rail-splitter  ” 
and  “flat-boatman  ” — uncouth  and  half-civilized  as 
many  supposed  him  — the  essential  elements  of  the 
true  gentleman. 

I was  always  touched  by  the  President’s  manner 
of  receiving  the  salute  of  the  guard  at  the  White 
House.  Whenever  he  appeared  in  the  portico,  on 
his  way  to  or  from  the  War  or  Treasury  Depart- 
ment, or  on  any  excursion  down  the  avenue,  the 
first  glimpse  of  him  was,  of  course,  the  signal  for  • 
the  sentinel  on  duty  to  “ present  arms.”  This  was 
always  acknowledged  bv  Mr.  Lincoln  with  a pecul- 
iar bow  and  touch  of  the  hat,  no  matter  how  many 
times  it-  might  occur  in  the  course  of  a day  ; and 
it  always  seemed  to  me  as  much  a compliment  to 
the  devotion  of  the  soldiers,  on  his  part,  as  it  was 
the  sign  of  duty  and  deference  on  the  part  of  the 
guard. 


170  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


The  Hon.  Mr.  Odell  gave  me  a deeply  interest- 
ing incident,  which  occurred  in  the  winter  of  1864, 
at  one  of  the  most  crowded  of  the  Presidential 
levees,  illustrating  very  perfectly  Mr.  Lincoln’s 
tJ’ue  politeness  and  delicacy  of  feeling. 

On  the  occasion  referred  to,  the  pressure  became 
so  great  that  the  usual  ceremony  of  hand-shaking 
was,  for  once,  discontinued.  The  President  had 
been  standing  for  some  time,  bowing  his  acknowl- 
edgments to  the  thronging  multitude,  when  his  eye 
fell  upon  a couple  who  had  entered  unobserved, — 
a wounded  soldier,  and  his  plainly  dressed  mother. 
Before  they  could  pass  out,  he  made  Jus  way  to 
where  they  stood,  and,  taking  each  of  them  by  the 
hand,  with  a delicacy  and  cordiality  which  brought 
tears  to  many  eyes,  he  assured  them  of  his  inter- 
est and  welcome.  GoVernors,  senators,  diplomats, 
passed  with  simply  a nod  ; but  that  pale  young  face 
he  might  never  see  again.  To  him,  and  to  others 
like  him,  did  the  nation  owe  its  life  ; and  Abraham 
Lincoln  was  not  the  man  to  forget  this,  even  in  the 
crowded  and  brilliant  assembly  of  the  distinguished 
of  the  land. 


LIH. 

The  opinion  of  the  Attorney-General,  Judge 
Pates,  as  to  the  safety  of  Mr.  Lincoln’s  being  in- 
trusted with  the  pardoning  power,  was  founded 
upon  an  intimate  knowledge  of  the  man.  A nature 
of  such  tenderness  and  humanity  would  have  been 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  171 

in  danger  of  erring  on  what  many  would  call  the 
weak  side,  had  it  not  been  balanced  by  an  un- 
usual degree  of  strong  practical  good  sense  and 
judgment. 

The  Secretary  of  War,  and  generals  in  com- 
mand, were  frequently  much  annoyed  at  being 
overruled,  — the  discipline  and  efficiency  of  the 
service  being  thereby,  as  they  considered,  greatly 
endangered.  But  there  was  no  going  back  of  the 
simple  signature,  “ A.  Lincoln,”  attached  to  proc- 
lamation or  reprieve. 

The  Hon.  Mr.  Kellogg,  repi'esentative  from  Es- 
sex County,  New  York,  received  a despatch  one 
evening  from  the  army,  to  the  effect  that  a young 
townsman,  who  had  been  induced  to  enlist  through 
his  instrumentality,  had,  for  a serious  misdemeanor, 
been  convicted  by  a court-martial,  and  was  to  be 
shot  the  next  day.  Greatly  agitated,  Mr.  Kellogg 
went  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  and  urged,  in  the 
strongest  manner,  a reprieve.  Stanton  was  inex- 
orable. “ Too  many  cases  of  the  kind  had  been 
let  off,”  he  said ; “ and  it  was  kime  an  example 
was  made.”  Exhausting  his  eloquence  in  vain, 
Mr.  Kellogg  said,  — “Well,  Mr.  Secretary,  the 
boy  is  not  going  to  be  shot,  — of  that  I give  you 
fair  warning  ! ” Leaving  the  War  Department,  he 
went  directly  to  the  White  House,  although  the 
hour  was  late.  The  sentinel  on  duty  told  him  that 
special  orders  had  been  issued  to  admit  no  one 
whatever  that  night.  After  a long  parley,  by 


172  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


pledging  himself  to  assume  the  responsibility  of 
the  act,  the  congressman  passed  in.  The  Presi- 
dent had  retired ; but,  indifferent  to  etiquette  or 
ceremony,  Judge  Kellogg  pressed  his  way  through 
all  obstacles  to  his  sleeping  apartment.  In  an  ex- 
cited manner  he  stated  that  the  despatch  announcing 
the  hour  of  execution  had  but  just  reached  him. 
“ This  man  must  not  be  shot,  Mr.  President,”  said 
be.  “ I can’t  help  what  he  may  have  done.  Why, 
he  is  an  old  neighbor  of  mine  ; I can’t  allow  him 
to  be  shot ! ” Mr.  Lincoln  had  remained  in  bed, 
quietly  listening  to  the  vehement  protestations  of 
his  old  friend,  (they  were  in  Congress  together.) 
He  at  length  said:  “ Well,  I don’t  believe  shooting 
him  will  do  him  any  good.  Give  me  that  pen.” 
And,  so  saying,  “red  tape”  was  unceremoniously 
cut,  and  another  poor  fellow’s  lease  of  life  was 
indefinitely  extended. 

One  night  Speaker  Colfax  left  all  other  business 
to  ask  the  President  to  respite  the  son  of  a constitu- 
ent, who  was  sentenced  to  be  shot,  at  Davenport, 
for  desertion.  He  heard  the  story  with  his  usual 
patience,  though  he  was  wearied  out  with  incessant 
calls,  and  anxious  for  rest,  and  then  replied  : “ Some 
of  our  generals  complain  that  I impair  discipline 
and  subordination  in  the  army  by  my  pardons  and 
respites,  byt  it  makes  me  rested,  after  a hard  day’s 
work,  if  I can  find  some  good  excuse  for  saving  a 
man’s  life,  and  I go  to  bed  happy  as  I think  how 
joyous  the  signing  of  my  name  will  make  him  and 
his  family  and  his  friends.” 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


173 


Mr.  Van  Alen,  of  New  York,  in  an  account  fur- 
nished the  “ Evening  Post,”  wrote : “ I well  re- 
member the  case  of  a poor  woman  who  sought, 
with  the  persistent  affection  of  a mother,  for  the 
pardon  of  her  son  condemned  to  death.  She  was 
successful  in  her  petition.  When  she  had  left  the 
room,  Mr.  Lincoln  turned  to  me  and  said : ‘ Per- 
haps I have  done  wrong,  but  at  all  events  I have 
made  that  poor  woman  happy.’  ” 

The  Hon.  Thaddeus  Stevens  told  me  that  on  one 
occasion  he  called  at  the  White  House  with  an 
elderly  lady,  in  great  trouble,  whose  son  had  been 
in  the  army,  but  for  some  offence  had  been  court- 
martialled,  and  sentenced  either  to  death,  or  impris- 
onment at  hard  labor  for  a long  term.  There  were 
some  extenuating  circumstances  ; and  after  a full 
hearing,  the  President  turned  to  the  representative, 
and  said  : “ Mr.  Stevens,  do  you  think  this  is  a case 
which  will  warrant  my  interference  ? ” With  my 
knowledge  of  the  facts  and  the  parties,”  was  the 
reply,  “ I should  have  no  hesitation  in  granting  a 
pardon.”  “ Then,”  returned  Mr.  Lincoln,  “ I 
will  pardon  him,”  and  he  proceeded  forthwith  to 
execute  the  paper.  The  gratitude  of  the  mother 
was  too  deep  for  expression,  and  not  a word  was 
said  between  her  and  Mr.  Stevens  until  they  were 
half  way  down  the  stairs  on  their  passage  out,  when 
she  suddenly  broke  forth  in  an  excited  manner  with 
the  words,  “ I knew  it  was  a copperhead  lie  ! ” 
“•What  do  you  refer  to,  madam  ? ” asked  Mr.  Ste- 


174  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


vens.  “ Why,  they  told  me  he  was  an  ugly  look- 
ing man,”  she  replied,  with  vehemence.  “ He  is 
the  handsomest  man  I ever  saw  in  my  life  ! ” And 
surely  for  that  mother,  and  for  many  another 
throughout  the  land,  no  carved  statue  of  ancient  or 
modern  art,  in  all  its  symmetx-y,  can  have  the 
charm  which  will  for  evermore  encircle  that  .care- 
worn but  gentle  face,  expressing  as  lineaments  of 
ruler  never  expressed  before,  “ Malice  towards  none 
— Charity  for  all.” 

Though  kind-hearted  almost  to  a fault,  neverthe- 
less Mr.  Lincoln  always  endeavored  to  be  just. 
The  Hon.  S.  F.  Miller,  of  New  York,  called  upon 
him  one  day  with  the  brother  of  a deserter  who 
had  been  arrested.  The  excuse  was  that  the  soldier 
had  been  home  on  a sick-furlough,  and  that  he 
afterwards  became  partially  insane,  and  had  conse- 
quently failed  to  return  and  report  in  proper  time. 
He  was  on  his  way  to  his  regiment  at  the  front  to 
be  tried.  The  President  at  once  ordered  him  to  be 
stopped  at  Alexandria  and  sent  before  a board  of  sur- 
geons for  examination  as  to  the  question  of  insanity. 
“ This  seemed  to  me  so  proper,”  said  the  represent- 
ative, “ that  I expressed  myself  satisfied.  But  on 
going  out,  the  brother,  who  was  anxious  for  an  im- 
mediate discharge,  said  to  me,  ‘ The  trouble  with 
your  President  is,  that  he  is  so  afraid  of  doing 
something  wrong.’  ” 

A young  man,  connected  with  a New  York  regi- 
nient,"  had  become  to  all  appearance  a hardened 


•SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  175 


criminal.  He  had  deserted  two  or  three  times, 
and,  when  at  last  detected  and  imprisoned,  had 
attempted  to  poison  his  guards,  one  of  whom  subse- 
quently died  from  the  effects  of  the  poison  uncon- 
sciously taken.  Of  course,  there  seemed  no  defence 
possible  in  such  a case.  But  the  fact  came  out  that 
the  boy  had  been  of  unsound  mind.  Some  friends 
of  his  mother  took  up  the  matter,  and  an  appeal 
was  made  to  the  Secretary  of  War.  He  declined, 
positively,  to  listen  to  it,  — the  case  was  too  aggra- 
vating. The  prisoner  (scarcely  more  than  a boy) 
was  confined  at  Elmira,  New  York.  The  day  for 
the  execution  of  his  sentence  had  nearly  arrived, 
when  his  mother  made  her  way  to  the  President. 
He  listened  to  her  story,  examined  the  record,  and 
said  that  his  opinion  accorded  with  that  of  the 
Secretary  of  War;  he  could  do  nothing  for  her. 
Heart-broken,  she  was  compelled  to  relinquish  her 
last  hope.  One  of  the  friends  who  had  become 
interested,  upon  learning  the  result  of  the  applica- 
tion, waited  upon  Senator  Harris.  That  gentleman 
said  that  his  engagements  utterly  precluded  his 
going  to  see  the  President  upon  the  subject,  until 
twelve  o’clock  of  the  second  night  following.  This 
brought  the  time  to  Wednesday  night,  and  the  sen- 
tence was  to  be  executed  on  Thursday.  Judge 
Harris,  true  to  his  word,  called  at  the  White  House 
at  twelve  o’clock  Wednesday  night.*  The  President 
had  retired,  but  the  interview  was 'granted.  The 
point  made  was  that  the  boy  was  insane,  — thus 


17 (J  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  . 

irresponsible,  and  his  execution  would  be  murder. 
Pardon  was  not  asked,  but  a reprieve,  until  a 
proper  medical  examination  could  be  made.  This 
was  so  reasonable  that  Mr.  Lincoln  acquiesced  in 
its  justice.  He  immediately  ordered  a telegram 
sent  to  Elmira,  delaying  the  execution  of  the  sen- 
tence. Early  the  next  morning  he  sent  another, 
by  a different  line,  and,  before  the  hour  of  execu- 
tion arrived,  he  had  sent  no  less  than  four  different 
reprieves,  by  different  lines,  to  different  indi- 
viduals in  Elmira,  so  fearful  was  he  that  the  mes- 
sage would  fail,  or  be  too  late. 

This  incident  suggests  another,  similar  only,  how- 
ever, in  the  fact  that  both  boys  were  alleged  to  be 
irresponsible.  A washerwoman  in  Troy  had  a 
son  nearly  imbecile  as  to  intellect,  yet  of  good 
physical  proportions.  The  boy  was  kidnapped,  or 
inveigled  away  by  some  scoundrels,  who  “ enlisted  ” 
him,  dividing  his  bounty  among  themselves.  For 
some  time  his  mother  could  learn  nothing  of  him. 
At  length  she  was  told  that  he  was  in  the  army. 
Alone  and  unfriended  she  went  to  Washington  to 
see,  in  her  simplicity,  if  she  could  not  get  his  dis- 
charge. The  gentleman  who  related  the  circum- 
stance  to  me  said  that  she  did  not  even  know  to 
which  of  the  New  York  regiments  her  son  belonged. 
She  could  get  no  chance  to  speak  to  the  President. 
At  length  she  'watched  her  opportunity,  and  inter- 
cepted him ‘on  his  way  from  the  War  Department. 
The  esuli  was,  that  taking  down  the  lad’s  name 


» • 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  177 

and  place  of  residence,  this  message  was  written  on 
the  back  of  the  card,  and  sent  to  the  War  Depart- 
ment : — 

'•'•This  poor  boy  is  said  to  be  idiotic.  Find  him , if 
possible,  and  return  him  to  his  mother. 

A.  Lincoln.” 

“ Calling,”  says  Mr.  Colfax,  “ npon  the  President 
one  morning  in  the  winter  of  1863,  I found  him 
looking  more  than  usually  pale  an<d  careworn,  and 
inquired  the  reason.  He  replied,  with  the  bad 
news  he  had  received  at  a late  hour  the  previous 
night,  which  had  not  yet  been  communicated  to  the 
press,  — he  had  not  closed  his  eyes  or  breakfasted  ; 
and,  with  an  expression  I shall  never  forget,  he 
exclaimed,  ‘ How  willingly  would  I exchange  places 
to-day  with  the  soldier  who  sleeps  on  the  ground  in 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac.’  ” 

And  yet,  in  the  face  of  such  evidence,  showing 
how  the  great  sympathy  and  sorroAv  of  the  late 
President  took  hold  upon  the  very  roots  and  springs 
of  his  nature,  there  are  not  found  wanting  assertions 
that  he  showed  a criminal  indifference  to  the  suffer- 
ings of  our  prisoners  at  Libby,  Andersonville,  and 
other  places  ; and,  in  proof  of  this,  it  is  stated  that 
there  is  no  record  of  his  ever  alluding  to  the  subject 
in  any  of  his  public  addresses  or  messages.  The 
questions  involved  in  the  suspension  of  the  exchange 
of  prisoners  are  difficult  of  decision-:  Whoever 
was  the  cause  of  this,  certainly  has  a fearful  respon- 
12 


178  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

sibility.  That  it  was  the  President’s  fault,  I do  not 
believe.  When  the  reports,  in  an  authentic  form, 
first  reached  Washington  of  the  sufferings  of  the 
Union  prisoners,  I know  he  was  greatly  excited 
and  overcome  by  them.  He  was  told  that  jus- 
tice demanded  a stern  retaliation.  He  said  to  his 
friend  Mr.  Odell,  with  the  deepest  emotion  : UI 
can  never , never  starve  men  like  that ! ” “ What- 

ever others  may  say  or  do , I never  can , and  I 
never  will , be  accessory  to  such  treatment  of  human 
beings  ! ” • And  although  he  spoke  with  the  deep- 
est feeling  at  the  Baltimore  Fair  of  the  Fort  Pillow 
massacre,  and  pledged  retaliation,  yet  that  pledge 
was  never  carried  into  execution.  It  was  simply 
impossible  for  Mr.  Lincoln  to  be  cruel  or  vindictive, 
no  matter  what  the  occasion.  In  the  serene  light 
of  history,  when  party  strife  and  bitterness  shall 
have  passed  away,  it  will  be  seen  that,  if  he  erred 
at  all,  it  was  always  on  the  side  of  mercy  and  mag- 
nanimity. 

LIV. 

At  a private  dinner-party  at  Willard’s  Hotel, 
given  by  Charles  Gould,  Esq.,  of  New  York,  1 
met  for  the  first  time  the  Hon.  Hugh  McCulloch, 
then  Comptroller  of  the  Currency.  An  ac- 
quaintance commenced,  under  circumstances  calcu- 
lated to  inspire  in  me  a sentiment  of  profound 
respect  for  this  gentleman’s  character  and  talents. 
I was  much  interested,  a few  days  afterward,  in  an 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  179 

incident  in  the  career  of  Mr.  McCulloch,  given  me 
by  the  Rev.  John  Pierpont,  who  was  an  occasional 
visitor  at  the  studio,  and  who,  in  his  hale  old  age, 
was  occupying  one  of  the  subordinate  positions  in 
the  Department. 

The  desk  at  which  Dr.  Pierpont  was  occupied 
was  in  a room  with  those  of  a large  number  of  other 
clerks,  among  whom  the  tall  figure  and  silvery 
beard  of  the  poet-preacher  were  very  conspicuous. 
One  day,  just  after  Mr.  McCulloch  had  entered 
upon  his  duties  in  Washington,  it  was  announced 
at  the  entrance  of  this  room,  that  the  new  Comp- 
troller had  called  to  see  “ Dr.  Pierpont.”  The 
clerks  looked  up  from  their  books,  and  at  one 
another,  inquiringly,  as  Mr.  McCulloch  took  a seat 
by  the  poet’s  desk.  “ I perceive,  Dr.  Pierpont,” 
said  he,  “ that  you  do  not  remember  me  ? ” The 
venerable  preacher  looked  at  him  a moment,  and 
replied  that  he  did  not  think  he  ever  had  seen  him 
before.  “ Oh  yes,  you  have,”  returned  the  Comp- 
troller ; “ I was  a member  of Class,  in  Cam- 

bridge, in  1833  and  ’34,  and  used  to  hear  you 
preach.  Upon  leaving  the  Law  School,  purposing  to 
take  up  my  residence  at  the  West,  I called  upon 
you  and  requested  one  or  two  letters  of  introduc- 
tion to  parties  in  Cincinnati.  You  gave  me  two 

letters,  one  to  a Mr.  S , and  the  other  to  a Mr. 

G ■-,  of  that  city.  Those  letters,  my  dear  sir, 

'were  the  stepping-stones  to  my  fortune.  I have 
not  seen  you  since  ; but  learning  that  you  were  in 


180  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

Washington,  I told  my  wife,  upon  leaving  home  to 
•take  the  position  offered  me  here,  that  the  first  call 
I made  in  Washington  should  be  upon  the  Rev. 
John  Pierpont.”  As  the  Comptroller  concluded, 
Dr.  Pierpont  put  on  his  spectacles,  and  looked  at 
him  a moment  in  silence.  He  at  length  said : — 
“ Why,  Mr.  McCulloch,  you  are  the  most  extraor- 
dinary man  I ever  saw  in  my  life  ! ” “ How  so  ? ” 

was  the  reply.  “ Why,  you  have  remerftbered  a 
favor  for  thirty  years.” 

Dr.  Pierpont  told  me,  on  another  occasion,  that 
in  the  prosecution  of  a duty  once  assigned  him  in 
the  Department,  he  had  to  review  a letter-hook, 
containing  correspondence  with  the  different  officers 
of  the  government.  Among  the  letters  was  a 
private  note,  written  by  Secretary  Chase  to  the 
Secretary  of  War,  calling  his  attention  to  a com- 
plaint, made  by  the  colored  people  of  Cincinnati, 
against  certain  orders,  or  officers  of  the  War  De- 
partment. The  letter  closed  with  these  words : — 

“ We  cannot  afford  to  lose  the  support  of  any 
part  of  our  people.  One  poor  man,  colored  though 
he  he,  with  God  on  his  side,  is  stronger  against  us 
than  the  hosts  of  the  rebellion.” 

LV. 

On  the  30th  of  June,  Washington  was  thrown 
into  a ferment,  by  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Chase  as 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury.  The  publication,  some 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  181 


weeks  before,  of  the  “‘Pomeroy’  secret  circular,”  in 
the  interest  of  Mr.  Chase,  as  a presidential  candi- 
date, had  created  much  talk,  and  considerable  bad 
feeling  in  the  party.  The  President,  however, 
took  no  part  in  the  discussion,  or  criticism,  which 
followed  ; — on  the  contrary,  he  manifested  a sin- 
cere desire  to  preserve  pleasant  relations,  and  har- 
monize existing  differences  in  the  Cabinet.  In 
proof  of  this,  I remember  his  sending  one  day 
for  Judge  Lewis,  the  Commissioner  of  Internal 
Revenue,  and  entering  into  a minute  explanation 
of  a misapprehension,  which  he  conceived  the  Sec- 
retary of  the  Treasury  to  be  laboring  under ; ex- 
pressing the  wish  that  the  Commissioner  would 
mediate,  on  his  behalf,  with  Mr.  Chase. 

Many  sincere  friends  of  Secretary  Chase  consid- 
ered his  resignation,  at  this  juncture,  unfortunate 
and  ill-timed.  The  financial  situation  was  more 
threatening  than  at  any  period  during  the  war.  Mr. 
Chase’s  administration  of  the  Treasury  Department, 
amid  unparalleled  difficulties,  had  been  such  as  to 
secure  the  confidence  and  satisfaction  of  the  masses  ; 
and  his  withdrawal  at  such  a time  was  regarded  as 
a public  calamity,  giving  rise  to  the  suspicion  that 
he  apprehended  national  insolvency.  The  resig- 
nation, however  had  been  twice  tendered  before, 
— the  third  time  it  was  accepted. 

I never  saw  the  President  under  so  much  excite- 
ment as  on  the  day  following  this  event.  Without 
consultation  or  advice,  so  far  as  I ever  could  leant. 


182  srx  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

lie  sent  to  the  Senate,  the  previous  afternoon,  the 
name  of  Ex-Governor  Todd,  of  Ohio,  for  the  suc- 
cessorship.  This  nomination  was  not  popular,  and 
great  relief  was  experienced  the  next  morning, 
when  it  was  announced  that  Governor  Todd  had  de- 
clined the  position.  Mr.  Lincoln  passed  an  anxious 
night.  lie  received  the  telegram  from  Governor 
Todd,  declining  the  nomination,  in  the  evening.  Re- 
tiring, he  laid  awake  some  hours,  canvassing  in  his 
mind  the  merits  of  various  public  men.  At  length 
he  settled  upon  the  Hon.  William  P.  Fessenden,  of 
Maine ; and  soon  afterward  fell  asleep.  The  next 
morning  he  went  to  his  office  and  wrote  the  nomi- 
nation. John  Hay,  the  assistant  private  secretary, 
had  taken  it  from  the  Preside'nt  on  his  way  to  the 
Capitol,  when  he  encountered  Senator  Fessenden 
upon  the  threshold  of  the  room.  As  chairman  of 
the  Finance  Committee,  he  also  had  passed  an 
anxious  night,  and  called  thus  early  to  consult  with 
the  President,  and  offer  some  suggestions.  After  a 
few  moments’  conversation,  Mr.  Lincoln  turned  to 
him  with  a smile,  and  said  : “ I am  obliged  to  you, 
Fessenden,  but  the  fact  is,  I have  just  sent  your 
own  name  to  the  Senate  for  Secretary  of  the  Treas- 
ury. Hay  had  just  received  the  nomination  from 
my  hand  as  you  entered.”  Mr.  Fessenden  was 
taken  completely  by  surprise,  and,  very  much  agi- 
tated, protested  his  inability  to  accept  the  position.. 
The  state  of  his  health,  he  said,  if  no  other  con- 
sideration, made  it  impossible.  Mr.  Lincoln  would 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  183 

not  accept  the  refusal  as  final.  He  very  justly  felt 
that  with  Mr.  Fessenden’s  experience  and  known 
ability  at  the  head  of  the  Finance  Committee,  his 
acceptance  would  go  far  toward  reestablishing  a 
feeling  of  security.  He  said  to  him,  very  earnestly, 
“ Fessenden,  the  Lord  has  not  deserted  me  t\us  far, 
and  He  is  not  going  to  now , — you  must  accept ! ” 
They  separated,  the  Senator  in  great  anxiety  of 
mind.  Throughout  the  day,  Mr.  Lincoln  urged 
almost  all  who  called  to  go  and  see  Mr.  Fessenden, 
and  press  upon  him  the  duty  of  accepting.  Among 
these  was  a delegation  of  New  York  bankers,  who, 
in  the  name  of  the  banking  community,  expressed 
their  satisfaction  at  the  nomination.  This  was 
especially  gratifying  to  the  President;  and,  in  the 
strongest  manner,  he  entreated  them  to  “ see  Mr. 
Fessenden  and  assure  him  of  their  support.” 

I am  tempted,  just  here,  to  introduce  a circum- 
stance which  occurred  in  the  course  of  the  day,  in 
which  the  President  and  myself  were  the  only 
actors.  In  the  solitude  of  the  state  dining-room, 
I resumed  my  work,  as  usual,  that  morning ; but 
my  mind  had  been  too  distracted  over  night  for 
success.  Participating  in  the  general  solicitude,  I 
also  had  been  intently  revolving  the  question  of  a 
successor  to  Mr.  Chase.  Unaccustomed  to  political 
currents,  and  rejecting  all  considerations  of  this 
character  in  a candidate,  my  thought  fastened  upon 
Comptroller  McCulloch,  as  the  man  for  the  crisis. 
His  name,  at  that  time,  singular  as  it  may  seem, 


184  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


had  not  been  suggested  by  any  one,  so  far  as  1 
knew,  — certainly  no  newspaper  had  advocated  his 
merits  or ’claims.  I was  at  length  impelled,  by  the 
force  of  the  convictions  which  engaged  my  mind, 
to  lay  down  my  palette  and  brushes,  and  go  up- 
stairs and  state  them  to  the  President. 

Improving  the  first  opportunity  when  we  were 
l.eft  alone,  I said,  half  playfully,  — “ Mr.  President, 
would  you  like  the  opinion  of  a painter  as  to  who 
would  make  a good  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  ? ” 
He  looked  at  me  a moment,  and  said  : “ Yes,  I 
think  I would.  What  is  your  advice  ? ” Said  I, 
“ Nominate  Hugh  McCulloch.”  “ Why,’’  said  he, 
“ what  do  you  know  of  McCulloch  ? ” “ Mr. 

President,”  I rejoined,  “ you  know  painters  are 
tlufUght  generally  to  have  very  little  knowledge  of 
financial  matters.  I admit  that  this  is  true,  so  far 
as  I am  concerned  ; but  I do  claim  to  know  some- 
thing of  wm,  from  the  study  of  character  as  ex- 
pressed in  faces.  Now,  in  my  humble  judgment, 
McCulloch  is  the  most  suitable  man  in  the  com- 
munity for  the  position.  First  ; his  ability  and  in- 
tegrity are  unquestionable.  Second  ; as  Comptroller 
of  the  Currency,  he  is  fully  acquainted  with  the 
past,  present,  and  proposed  future  policy  of  Secre- 
tary Chase,  and  the  entire  ‘ machinery  ’ of  the 
Department.  Third  ; he  is  a practical  financier. 
Having  made  finance  the  study  of  his  life,  it  is 
obvious  he  is  already  educated  to  the  position  ; 
whereas,  a man  taken  from  the  political  arena 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  185 

would  have  everything  to  learn,  and  then  even, 
his  judgment  would  be  distrusted.”  Upon  this  Mr. 
Lincoln  said,  with  emphasis,  — “I  believe  McCul- 
loch is  a very  good  man  ! ” I think  he  repeated 
this  once  or  twice.  My  errand  accomplished,  I 
returned  to  my  labor,  satisfied  that  the  instincts  of 
the  President  could  be  safely  trusted  with  this, 
with  other  matters ; and  that,  though  he  might 
temporarily  err,  he  would  ultimately  solve  the  ques- 
tion satisfactorily. 

LVI. 

Much  has  been  said  and  written,  since  Mr.  Lin 
coin’s  death,  in  regard  to  his  religious  experience 
and  character.  Two  or  three  stories  have  b*en 
published,  bearing  upon  this  point,  which  I have 
never  been  able  to  trace  to  a reliable  source  ;.and  I 
feel  impelled  to  state  my  belief  that  the  facts  in  the 
case  — if  there  were  such  — have  received  in  some 
way  an  unwarranted  embellishment.  Of  all  men 
in  the  world,  the  late  President  was  the  most  unaf- 
fected and  truthful.  He  rarely  or  never  used  lan- 
guage loosely  or  carelessly,  or  for  the  sake  of  com- 
pliment. He  was  the  most  indifferent  to  the  effect 
he  was  producing,  either  upon  official  representatives 
or  the  common  people,  of  any  man  ever  in  public 
position. 

In  the  ordinary  acceptation  of  the  term,  I 
would  scarcely  have,  called  Mr.  Lincoln  a religious 


186  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


man,  — and  yet  I believe  him  to  have  been  a 
sincere  Christian.  A constitutional  tendency  to 
dwell  upon  sacred  things,  an  emotional  nature 
which  finds  ready  expression  in  religious  conversa- 
tion and  revival  meetings,  the  culture  and  develop- 
ment of  the  devotional  element  till  the  expression 
of  such  thought  and  experience  becomes  habitual, 
were  not  among  his  characteristics.  Doubtless  he 
felt  as  deeply  upon  the  great  questions  of  the  soul 
and  eternity  as  any  other  thoughtful  man  ; but  the 
very  tenderness  and  humility  of  his  nature  would 
not  permit  the  exposure  of  his  inmost  convictions, 
except  upon  the  rarest  occasions,  and  to  his  most 
intimate  friends.  And  yet,  aside  from  emotional 
expression,  I believe  no  man  had  a more  abiding 
sei^se  of  his  dependence  upon  God,  or  faith  in  the 
Divine  government,  and  in  the  power  and  ultimate 
triumph  of  Truth  and  Right  in  the  world.  The 
Rev.  J.  P.  Thompson,  of  New  York,  in  an  ad- 
mirable discourse  upon  the  life  and  character  of 
the  departed  President,  very  justly  observed : “It 
is  not  necessary  to  appeal  to  apocryphal  stories 
— which  illustrate  as  much  the  assurance  of  his 
visitors  as  the  simplicity  of  his  faith  — for  proof  of 
Mr.  Lincoln’s  Christian  character.”  If  his  daily 
life  and  various  public  addresses  and  writings  do 
not  show  this,  surely  nothing  can  demonstrate  it. 

Fortunately  there  is  sufficient  material  before  the 
public,  upon  which  to  form  a judgment  in  this  re- 
spect, without  resorting  to  apocryphal  resources. 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  187 


The  Rev.  Mr.  Willets,  of  Brooklyn,  gave  me 
an  account  of  a conversation  with  Mr.  Lincoln,  on 
the  part  of  a lady  of  his  acquaintance,  connected 
with  the  “ Christian  Commission,”  who  in  the  pros- 
ecution of  her  duties  had  several  interviews  with 
him.  The  President,  it  seemed,  had  been  much 
impressed  with  the  devotion  and  earnestness  of 
purpose  manifested  by  the  lady,  and  on  one  occa- 
sion, after  she  had  discharged  the  object  of  her 

visit,  he  said  to  her  : “ Mrs. , I have  formed  a 

high  opinion  of  your  Christian  character,  and  now, 
as  we  are  alone,  I have  a mind  to  ask  you  to  give 
me,  in  brief,  your  idea  of  what  constitutes  a true 
religious  experience.”  The  lady  replied  at  some 
length,  stating  that,  in  her  judgment,  it  consisted 
of  a conviction  of  one’s  own  sinfulness  and  weak- 
ness, and  personal  need  of  the  Saviour  for  strength 
and  support ; that  views  of  mere  doctrine  might 
and  would  differ,  but  when  one  was  really  brought 
to  feel  his  need  of  Divine  help,  and  to  seek  the  aid 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  for  strength  and  guidance,  it 
was  satisfactory  evidence  of  his  having  been  born 
again.  This  was  the  substance  of  her  reply.  When 
she  had  concluded,  Mr.  Lincoln  was  very  thought- 
ful for  a few  moments.  He  at  length  said,  very 
earnestly,  “ If  what  you  have  told  me  is  really  a 
correct  view  of  this  great  subject,  1 think  I can  say 
with  sincerity,  that  I hope  I am  a Christian.  I 
had  lived,”  he  continued,  “until  my  boy  Willie 
died,  without  realizing  fully  these  things.  That^ 


188  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


blow  overwhelmed  me.  It  showed  me  my  weak 
ness  as  I had  never  felt  it  before,  and  if  I can  take 
what  you  have  stated  as  a test , I think  I can  safely 
say  that  I know  something  of  that  change  of  which 
you  speak  ; and  I will  further  add,  that  it  has  been 
my  intention  for  some  time,  at  a suitable  opportu- 
nity, to  make  a public  religious  profession.” 

Mr.  Noah  Brooks,  in  some  “ reminiscences,”  al- 
ready quoted  from  in  these  pages,  gives  the  follow- 
ing upon  this  subject : — 

“ J ust  after  the  last  Pi’esidential  election  he  said, 
‘ Being  only  mortal,  after  all,  I should  have  been  a 
little  mortified  if  I had  been  beaten  in  this  canvass ; 
but  that  sting  would  have  been  more  than  compen- 
sated by  the  thought  that  the  people  had  notified 
me  that  all  my  official  responsibilities  were  soon  to 
be  lifted  off  my  back.’  In  reply  to  the  remark 
that  he  might  remember  that  in  all  these  cares  he 
was  daily  remembered  by  those  who  prayed,  not  to 
be  heard  of  men,  as  no  man  had  ever  before  been 
remembered,  he  caught  at  the  homely  phrase,  and 
said,  ‘ Yes,  I like  that  phrase,  “ not  to  be  heard  of 
men,”  and  guess  it  is  generally  true,  as  you  say  ; at 
least,  I have  been  told  so,  and  I have  been  a good 
deal  helped  by  just  that  thought.’  Then  he  sol- 
emnly and  slowly  added : ‘ I should  be  the  most 
presumptuous  blockhead  upon  this  footstool,  if  I 
for  one  day  thought  that  I could  discharge  the 
duties  which  have  come  upon  me  since  I came 
into  this  place,  without  the  aid  and  enlighten- 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  "WHITE  HOUSE.  189 


ment  of  One  -who  is  stronger  and  wiser  than  all 
others.’  ” 

“ At  another  time  he  said  cheerfully,  ‘ I am  very 
sure  that  if  I do  not  go  away  from  here  a wiser 
man,  I shall  go  away  a better  man,  for  having 
learned  here  what «,  very  poor  sort  of  a man  I am.’ 
Afterwards,  referring  to  what  he  called  a change  of 
heart,  he  said  he  did  not  remember  any  precise 
time,  when  he  passed  through  any  special  change  of 
purpose,  or  of  heart  ; but  he  would  say,  that  his 
own  election  to  office,  and  the  crisis  immediately 
following,  influentially  determined  him  in  what  he 
called  ‘ a process  of  crystallization,’  then  going  on 
in  his  mind.  Reticent  as  he  was,  and  shy  of  dis-' 
coursing  much  of  his  own  mental  exercises,  these 
few  utterances  now  have  a value  with  those  who 
knew  him,  which  his  dying  words  would  scarcely 
have  possessed.” 

“ On  Thursday  of  a certain  week,  two  ladies, 
from  Tennessee,  came  before  the  President,  asking 
the  release  of  their  husbands,  held  as  prisoners  of 
war  at  Johnson’s  Island.  They  were  put  off  until 
Friday^  when  they  came  again,  and  were  again  put 
off  until  Saturday.  At  each  of  the  interviews  one 
of  the  ladies  urged  that  her  husband  was  a religious 
man.  On  Saturday,  when  the  President  ordered 
the  release  of  the  prisoner,  he  said  to  this  lady,  — 

‘ You  say  your  husband  is  a religious  man ; tell 
him,  when  you  meet  him,  that  I say  I am  not  much 
of  a judge  of  religion,  but  that  in  my  opinion  the 


190  SEX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

religion  which  sets  men  to  rebel  and  fight  against 
their  government,  because,  as  they  think,  that  gov- 
ernment does  not  sufficiently  help  some  men  to  eat 
their  bread  in  the  sweat  of  other  men’s  faces,  is  not 
the  sort  of  religion  upon  which  people  can  get  to 
heaven.’  ” • 

“ On  an  occasion  I shall  never  forget,”  says  the 
Hon.  H.  C.  Deming,  of  Connecticut,  “ the  conver- 
sation turned  upon  religious  subjects,  and  Mr.  Lin- 
coln made  this  impressive  remark  : ‘ I have  never 
united  myself  to  any  church,  because  I have  found 
difficulty  in  giving  my  assent,  without  mental  res- 
ervation, to  the  long,  complicated  statements  of 
Christian  doctrine  which  characterize  their  Articles 
of  Belief  and  Confessions  of  Faith.  When  any 
church  will  inscribe  over  its  altar,  as  its  sole  qualifi- 
cation for  membership,’  he  continued,  ‘ the  Saviour’s 
condensed  statement  of  the  substance  of  both  Law 
and  Gospel,  “ Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God 
with  all  thy  heart,  and  with  all  thy  soul,  and  with 
all  thy  mind,  and  thy  neighbor  as  thyself,”  that 
church  will  I join  with  all  my  heart  and  all  my 
soul.’  ” 

At  a dinner-party  in  Washington,  composed  - 
mainly  of  opponents  of  the  war  and  the  adminis- 
tration, Mr.  Lincoln’s  course  and  policy  was,  as 
usual  with  this  class,  the  subject  of  vehement  de 
nunciation.  This  had  gone  on  for  some  time,  when 
one  of  the  company,  who  had  taken  no  part  in  the 
discussion,  akked  the  privilege  of  saying  a few  words. 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  191 


“ Gentlemen,”  said  he,  “ you  may  talk  as  you 
please  about- Mr.  Lincoln’s  capacity;  I don’t  be- 
lieve him  to  be  the  ablest  statesman  in  America,  by 
any  means,  and  I voted  against  him  on  both  occa- 
sions of  his  candidacy.  But  I happened  to  see,  or, 
rather,  to  hear  something,  the  other  day,  that  con- 
vinced me  that,  however  deficient  he  may  be  in  the 
head,  he  is  all  right  in  the  heart.  I was  up  at 
the  White  House,  having  called  to  see  the  Pres- 
ident on  business.  I was  shown  into  the  office 
of  his  private  secretary,  and  told  that  Mr.  Lincoln 
was  busy  just  then,  but  would  be  disengaged  in  a 
short  time.  While  waiting,  I heard  a very  earnest 
prayer  being  uttered  in  a loud  female  voice  in  the 
adjoining  rqom.  I inquired  what  it  meant,  and  was 
told  that  an  old  Quaker  lady,  a friend  of  the  Presi- 
dent’s, had  called  that  afternoon  and  taken  tea  at 
the  White  House,  and  that  she  was  then  praying 
with  Mr.  Lincoln.  After  the  lapse  of  a few  min- 
utes the  prayer  ceased,  and  the  President,  accom- 
panied by  a Quakeress  not  less  than  eighty  years 
old,  entered  the  room  where  I was  sitting.  I made 
up  my  mind  then,  gentlemen,  that  Mr.  Lincoln  was 
. uot  a bad  man  ; and  I don’t  think  it  will  be  easy  to 
efface  the  impression  that  the  scene  I witnessed  and 
the  voice  I heard  made  on  my  mind  ! ” 

Nothing,  has  been  given  to  the  public  since  Mr. 
Lincoln’s  death,  more  interesting  and  valuable  thau 
the  following,  from  the  pen  of  Dr.  Holland  : — * 

* Holland’s  Life  of  Abraham  Lincoln. 


192  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


“ At  the  time  of  the  nominations  at  Chicago, 
Mr.  Newton  Bateman,  Superintendent  of  Public 
Instruction  for  the  State  of  Illinois,  occupied  a 
room  adjoining  and  opening  into  the  Executive 
Chamber  at  Springfield.  Frequently  this  door  was 
open  during  Mr.  Lincoln’s  receptions,  and  through- 
out the  seven  months  or  more  of  his  occupation,  he 
saw  him  nearly  every  day.  Often  when  Mr.  Lin- 
coln was  tired,  he  closed  the  door  against  all  in- 
truders, and  called  Mr.  Bateman  into  his  room  for  a 
quiet  talk.  On  one  of  these  occasions  Mr.  Lincoln 
took  up  a book  containing  a careful  canvass  of  the 
city  of  Springfield  in  which  he  lived,  showing  the 
candidate  for  whom  each  citizen  had  declared  it  his 
intention  to  vote  in  the  approaching  election.  Mr. 
Lincoln’s  friends  had,  doubtless  at  his  own  request, 
placed  the  result  of  the  canvass  in  his  hands.  This 
was  towards  the  close  of  October,  and  only  a few 
days  before  election.  Calling  Mr.  Bateman  to  a 
seat  by  his  side,  having  previously  locked  all  the 
doors,  he  said  : ‘ Let  us  look  over  this  book  ; I wish 
particularly  to  see  how  the  ministers  of  Springfield 
are  going  to  vote.’  The  leaves  were  turned,  one 
by  one,  and  as  the  names  were  examined  Mr.  Lin- 
coln frequently  asked  if  this  one  and  that  were  not 
a minister,  or  an  elder,  or  a member  of  such  or 
such  church,  and  sadly  expressed  his  surprise  on 
receiving  an  affirmative  answer.  In  that  manner 
they  went  through  the  book,  and  then  he  closed  it 
and  sat  silently  for  some  minutes,  regarding  a mem- 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


193 


orandum  in  pencil  which  lay  before  him.  At  length 
he  turned  to  Mr.  Bateman,  with  a face  full  of  sad- 
ness, and  said  : ‘ Here  are  twenty-three  ministers, 
of  different  denominations,  and  all  of  them  are 
against  me  but  thi'ee  ; and  here  are  a great  many 
prominent  members  of  the  churches,  a very  large 
'majority  are  against  me.  Mr.  Bateman,  I am  not 
a Christian,  — God  knows  I would  be  one,  — but  I 
have  carefully  read  the  Bible,  and  I do  not  so 
understand  this  book ; ’ and  he  drew  forth  a pocket 
New  Testament.  ‘ These  men  well  know.’  he  con- 
tinued, ‘that  I am  for  freedom  in  the  Territories, 
freedom  everywhere  as  free  as  the  Constitution  and 
the  laws  will  permit,  and  that  my  opponents  are  for 
slavery.  They  know  this,  and  yet,  with  this  book 
in  their  hands,  in  the  light  of  which  human  bondage 
cannot  live  a moment,  they  are  going  to  vote  against 
me  ; I do  not  understand  it  at  all.’ 

“ Here  Mr.  Lincoln  paused,  — paused  for  long 
minutes,  — his  features  surcharged  with  emotion. 
Then  he  rose  and  walked  up  and  down  the  recep- 
tion-room in  the  effort  to  retain  or  regain  his  self- 
possession.  Stopping  at  last,  he  said,  with  a trem- 
bling voice  and  his  cheeks  wet  with  tears : ‘ I know 
there  is  a God,  and  that  He  hates  injustice  and 
slavery.  I see  the  storm  coming,  and  I know  that 
his  hand  is  in  it.  If  He  has  a place  and  work  for 
me  — and  I think  He  has  — I believe  I am  ready. 
I am  nothing,  but  Truth  is  everything.  [ know  I 
am  right,  because  I know  that  liberty  is  right,  for 
13 


194  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


Christ  teaches  it,  and  Christ  is  God.  I have  told 
them  that  a house  divided  against  itself  cannot 
stand ; and  Christ  and  Reason  say  the  same  ; and 
they  will  find  it  so.’ 

“ ‘ Douglas  don’t  care  whether  slavery  is  voted 
up  or  down,  but  God  cares,  and  humanity  cares, 
and  I care  ; and  with  God’s  help  I shall  not  fail. 
I may  not  see  the  end  ; but  it  will  come,  and  I 
shall  be  vindicated ; and  these  men  will  find  that 
they  have  not  read  their  Bibles  right.’ 

“ Much  of  this  was  uttered  as  if  he  was  speaking 
to  himself,  and  witli  a sad,  earnest  solemnity  of 
manner  impossible  to  be  described.  After  a pause, 
he  resumed  : ‘ Does  n’t  it  appear  strange  that  men 
can  ignore  the  moral  aspect  of  this  contest  ? A rev- 
elation could  not  make  it  plainer  to  me  that  slavery 
or  the  Government  must  be  destroyed.  The  future 
would  be  something  awful,  as  I look  at  it,  but  for 
this  rock  on  which  I stand,’  (alluding  to  the  Testa- 
ment which  he  still  held  in  his  hand,)  ‘ especially 
with  the  knowledge  of  how  these  ministers  are 
going  to  vote.  It  seems  as  if  God  had  borne  with 
this  thing  [slavery]  until  the  very  teachers  of  re- 
ligion had  come  to  defend  it  from  the  Bible,  and  to 
claim  for  it  a divine  character  and  sanction  ; and 
now  the  cup  of  iniquity  is  full,  and  the  vials  of 
wrath  will  be  poured  out.’  After  this  the  conver- 
sation was  continued  for  a long  time.  Everything 
he  said  was  of  a peculiarly  deep,  tender,  and  relig- 
ious tone,  and  all  was  tinged  with  a touching  mel- 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  19,'t 


ancholy.  He  repeatedly  referred  to  his  conviction 
that  the  day  of  wrath  was  at  hand,  and  that  he  was 
to  be  an  actor  in  the  terrible  struggle  which  would 
issue  in  the  overthrow  of  slavery,  though  he  might 
not  live  to  see  the  end. 

“After  further  reference  to  a belief  in  Di\ine 
Providence,  and  the  fact  of  God  in  history,  the  con- 
versation turned  upon  prayer.  He  freely  stated  his 
belief  in  the  duty,  privilege,  and  efficacy  of  prayer, 
and  intimated,  in  no  unmistakable  terms,  that  he  had 
sought  in  that  way  the  Divine  guidance  and  favor. 
The  effect  of  this  conversation  upon  the  mind  of  Mr. 
Bateman,  a Christian  gentleman  whom  Mr.  Lincoln 
profoundly  respected,  was  to  convince  him  that  Mr. 
Lincoln  had,  in  his  quiet  way,  found  a path  to  the 
Christian  standpoint  — that  he  had  found  God, 
and  rested  on  the  eternal  truth  of  God.  As  the 
two  men  were  about  to  separate,  Mr.  Bateman 
remarked : ‘ I have  not  supposed  that  you  were 
accustomed  to  think  so  much  upon  this  class  of 
subjects ; certainly  your  friends  generally  are  igno- 
rant of  the  sentiments  you  have  expressed  to  me.’ 
He  replied  quickly  : ‘ I know  they  are,  but  I think 
more  on  these  subjects  than  upon  all  others,  and  I 
have  done  so  for  years ; and  I am  willing  you 
should  know  it.’  ” 

Schuyler  Colfax  once  said  to  me  that  “ Mr. 
Lincoln  had  two  l’uling  ideas,  or  principles,  which 
governed  his  life.  The  first  was  hatred  of  slavery, 
which  he  inherited  in  part  from  his  parents  ; the 


196  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


other  was  sympathy  with  the  lowly  born  and  hum- 
ble, and  the  desire  to  lift  them  up.”  I know  of  no 
better  epitaph-  for  his  tombstone  than  this,  save 
that  suggested  by  Theodore  Tilton,  the  editor  of 
the  New  York  “ Independent,”  — “ He  bound  the 
nation,  and  unbound  tbe  slave.” 

lvii. 

On  the  Fourth  of  July  an  unprecedented  event 
was  witnessed  in  Washington.  By  special  consent  ‘ 
of  the  President,  the  White  House  grounds  were 
granted  to  the  colored  people  of  the  city  for  a grand 
Sunday-school  festival,  and  never  did  they  present 
a busier  or  more  jubilant  scene.  Inside  the  grounds 
a platform  was  erected,  upon  which  accommoda- 
tions were  placed  for  speakers.  Around  this  were 
rows  of  benches,  which,  during  the  greater  part 
of  the  day,  were  not  only  well  filled  but  crowded. 
Meanwhile  groups  reposed  under  every  tree  or 
walked  to  and  fro  along  the  shaded  paths.  From 
the  thick-leaved  branches  of  the  trees  were  sus- 
pended swings,  of  which  all,  both  old  and  young, 
made  abundant  use.  Every  contrivance  which  could 
ad  I to  the  pleasure  of  the  time  was  brought  into 
energetic  requisition,  and  altogether  no  celebration 
of  the  day  pi’esented  a greater  appearance  of  enjoy- 
ment and  success. 

By  the  Act  of  Emancipation,  Mr.  Lincoln  built 
for  himself  the  first  place  in  the  affections  of  the 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  197 


African  race  on  this  continent.  The  love  and  rev- 
erence manifested  for  his  name  and  person  on  all 
occasions  daring  the  last  two  years  of  his  life,  by 
this  down-trodden  people,  were  always  remarkable, 
and  sometimes  of  a thrilling  character.  In  the  lan- 
guage of  one  of  the  poor  creatures  who  stood  weep- 
ing and  moaning  at  the  gateway  of'the  avenue  in 
front  of  the  White  House,  while  the  beloved  re- 
mains were  lying  in  state  in  the  East  Room,  “ they 
had  him.” 

No  public  testimonial  of  regard,  it  is  safe  to  say, 
gave  Mr.  Lincoln  more  sincere  pleasure  during  his 
entire  public  life,  than  that  presented  by  the  colored 
people  of  the  city  of  Baltimore,  in  the  summer  of 
1864,  consisting  of  an  elegant  copy  of  the  Holy 
Bible.  The  volume  was  of  the  usual  pulpit  size, 
bound  in  violet-colored  velvet.  The  corners  were 
bands  of  solid  gold,  and  carved  upon  a plate  also  of 
gold,  not  less  than  one  fourth  of  an  inch  thick.  Upon 
the  left-hand  cover,  was  a design  representing  the 
President  in  a cotton-field  knocking  the  shackles  off 
the  wrists  of  a slave,  who  held  one  hand  aloft  as  if 
invoking  blessings  upon  the  head  of  his  benefactor, 
— at  whose  feet  was  a scroll  upon  which  was  writ- 
ten “ Emancipation  ” ; upon  the  other  cover  was  a 
similar  plate  bearing  the  inscription  : — 

“To  Abraham  Lincoln,  President  of  the  United 
States,  the  friend  of  Universal  Freedom.  From  the  loyal 
colored  people  of  Baltimore,  as  a token  of  respect  and 
gratitude.  Baltimore,  July  4th,  1864.” 


198  SEX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


The  presentation  was  made  by  a committee  of 
colored  people,  consisting  of  three  clergymen  and 
two  laymen,  who  were  received  by  the  President  in 
the  most  cordial  manner,  after  which  the  Rev.  S. 
W.  Chase,  on  the  part  of  the  committee,  said  : — 

“ Mr.  President  : The  loyal  colored  people  of  Balti- 
more have  delegated  to  us  the  authority  to  present  this 
Bible,  as  a token  of  their  appreciation  of  your  humane 
part  towards  the  people  of  our  race.  While  all  the  na- 
tion are  offering  their  tributes  of  respect,  we  cannot  let 
the  occasion  pass  by  without  tendering  ours.  Since  we 
have  been  incorporated  in  the  American  family  we  have 
been  true  and  loyal,  and  we  now  stand  by,  ready  to  de- 
fend the  country.  We  are  ready  to  be  armed  and  trained 
in  military  matters,  in  order  to  protect  and  defend  the 
Star-spangled  Banner. 

“ Our  hearts  will  ever  feel  the  most  unbounded  gratitude 
towards  you.  We  come  forward  to  present  a copy  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures  as  a token  of  respect  to  you  for  your  ac- 
tive part  in  the  cause  of  emancipation.  This  great  event 
will  be  a matter  of  history.  In  future,  when  our  sons 
shall  ask  what  mean  these  tokens,  they  will  be  told  of 
your  mighty  acts,  and  rise  up  and  call  you  blessed. 

“ The  loyal  colored  people  will  remember  your  Excel- 
lency at  the  throne  .of  Divine  Grace.  May  the  King 
Eternal,  an  all-wise  Providence,  protect  and  keep  you, 
and  when  you  pass  from  this  world,  may  you  be  borne  to 
the  bosom  of  your  Saviour  and  God.” 

The  President,  in  reply,  said  : — 

“ It  would  be  a very  fitting  occasion  to  make  a response 
at  length  to  the  very  appropriate  address  which  you  have 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  193 

just  made,  t wo  old  do  so  if  I were  prepared.  I would 
promise  you  to  make  a response  in  writing,  had  not  expe- 
rience taught  me  that  business  will  not  allow  me  to  do  so. 
I can  only  say  now,  as  I have  often  said  before,  it  has 
always  been  a sentiment  with  me  that  all  mankind  should 
be  free. 

“ So  far  as  I have  been  able,  so  far  as  came  within  my 
sphere,  I have  always  acted  as  I believed  was  right  and 
just,  and  done  all  I could  for  the  good  of  mankind.  I 
have,  in  letters  and  documents  sent  forth  from  this  office, 
expressed  myself  better  than  I can  now.  In  regard  to 
the  great  book,  I have  only  to  say,  it  is  the  best  gift 
which  God  has  ever  given  man. 

“ All  the  good  from  the  Saviour  of  the  World  is  com- 
municated to  us  through  this  book.  But  for  that  book 
we  could  not  know  right  from  wrong.  All  those  things 
desirable  to  man  are  contained  in  it.  I return  you  my 
sincere  thanks  for  this  very  elegant  copy  of  the  great 
book  of  God  which  you  present.” 

After  some  time  spent  in  the  examination  of  the 
gift,  which  drew  out  many  expressions  of  admiration 
from  the  President,  the  party  withdrew,  Mr.  Lin- 
coln taking  each  of  them  by  the  hand  as  they  passed 
out. 

Caroline  Johnson,  an  estimable  colored  woman 
of  Philadelphia,  an  active  nurse  in  the  hospitals 
during  the  war,  who  had  once  been  a slave,  as  an 
expression  of  reverence  and  affection  for  Presi- 
dent Lincoln,  prepared,  with  much  taste  and  in- 
genuity, a superb  collection  of  wax  fruits,  together 
with  a stem-table,  appropriately  ornamented,  which 


200  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


she  desired  to  present  to  the  President.  Through  a 
friend  an  opportunity  was  secured,  and  she  went  to 
Washington,  with  her  minister,  to  attend  personally 
to  the  setting  up  of  the  stand  and  fruit. 

The  result  is  given  by  a coi’respondent  of  the 
“ Anti-Slavery  Standard,”  in  her  own  words  : — 

“ The  Commissioner,  Mr.  Newton,  received  us 
kindly,  and  sent  the  box  to  the  White  House,  with 
directions  that  it  should  not  be  opened  until  I came. 
The  next  day  was  reception  day,  but  the  President 
sent  me  word  that  he  would  receive  me  at  one 
o’clock.  I went  and  arranged  the  table,  placing  it 
in  the  centre  of  the  room.  Then  I was  introduced 
to  the  President  and  his  wife.  He  stood  next  to 
me  ; then  Mrs.  Lincoln,  Mr.  Newton,  and  the  min- 
ister ; the  others  outside.  Mr.  Hamilton  (the  min- 
ister) made  an  appropriate  speech,  and  at  the  con- 
clusion said : 4 Perhaps  Mrs.  Johnson  would  like  to 
say  a few  words  ? ’ I looked  down  to  the  floor,  and 
felt  that  I had  not  a word  to  say,  but  after  a mo- 
ment or  two,  the  fh’e  began  to  burn,  (laying  hei 
hand  on  her  breast,)  and  it  burned  and  burned  till 
it  went  all  over  me.  I think  it  was  the  Spirit, 
and  I looked  up  to  him  and  said  : ‘ Mr.  President,  I 
believe  God  has  hewn  you  out  of  a rock,  for  this 
great  and  mighty  purpose.  Many  have  been  led 
away  by  bribes  of  gold,  of  silver,  of  presents ; but 
you  have  stood  firm,  because  God  was  with  you, 
and  if  you  are  faithful  to  the  end,  he  will  be  with 
you.’  With  his  eyes  full  of  tears,  he  walked  round 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


201 


ai.u  examined  the  present,  pronounced  :c  beautiful, 
thanked  me  kindly,  but  said:  ‘You  must  not  give 
me  the  praise  — it  belongs  to  God.’ 


LYin. 

“ Sojourner  Truth,”  the  slave  preacher  whom 
Mrs.  Stowe  has  described  as  embodying  all  tne  ele- 
ments of  an  African  prophetess  or  sibyl,  when 
over  eighty  years  old,  left  her  home,  at  Battlecreek, 
Michigan,  with  the  unalterable  purpose  of  seeing 
the  Emancipator  of  her  race  before  her  death. 
Provided  for  throughout  her  journey,  she  reached 
Washington  the  last  of  October,  1864,  and  subse- 
quently, at  her  dictation,  the  following  account  of 
her  interview  with  Mr.  Lincoln  was  written  out  by 
a friend  : — 

“ It  was  about  eight  o’clock,  a.  m.,  when  I called 
on  the  President.  Upon  entering  his  reception-room 
we  found  about  a dozen  persons  in  waiting,  among 
them  two  colored  women.  I li^id  quite  a pleasant 
time  waiting  until  he  w^as  disengaged,  and  enjoyed 
his  conversation  with  others  ; he  showed  as  much 
kindness  and  consideration  to  the  colored  persons  as 
to  the  whites,  — if  there  was  any  difference,  more. 
One  case  was  that  of  a colored  woman,  wrho  wras  sick 
and  likely  to  be  turned  out  of  her  house  on  account 
of  her  inability  to  pay  her  rent.  The  President  lis- 
tened to  her  with  much  attention,  and  spoke  to  her 
with  kindness  and  tenderness.  He  said  he  had 


202 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


given  so  mucli  he  could  give  no  more,  but  told  her 
where  to  go  and  get  the  money,  and  asked  Mrs. 

C , who  accompanied  me,  to  assist  her,  which 

she  did. 

“ The  President  was  seated  at  his  desk.  Mrs.  C. 
said  to  him:  ‘This  is  Sojourner  Truth,  who  has 
come  all  the  way  from  Michigan  to  see  you.’  He 
then  arose,  gave  me  his  hand,  made  a bow,  and 
said : ‘ I am  pleased  to  see  you.’ 

“ I said  to  him  : ‘ Mr.  President,  when  you  first 
took  your  seat  I feared  you  would  be  torn  to  pieces, 
for  I likened  you  unto  Daniel,  who  was  thrown  into 
the  lions’  den  ; and  if  the  lions  did  not  tear  you  into 
pieces,  I knew  that  it  would  be  God  that  had  saved 
you ; and  I said  if  He  spared  me  I would  see  you 
before  the  four  years  expired,  and  He  has  done  so, 
and  now  I am  here  to  see  you  for  myself.’ 

“ He  then  congratulated  me  on  my  having  been 
spared.  Then  I said : ‘ I appreciate  you,  for  you 
are  the  best  President  who  has  ever  taken  the  seat.’ 
He  replied  thus  : ‘ I expect  you  have  reference  to 
my  having  emancipated  the  slaves  in  my  proclama- 
tion. But,’  said  he,  mentioning  the  names  of  sev- 
eral of  his  predecessors,  (and  among  them  emphati- 
cally that  of  Washington,)  4 they  were  all  just  as 
good,  and  would  have  done  just  as  I have  done  if 
the  time  had  come.  If  the  people  over  the  river 
(pointing  across  the  Potomae)  had  behaved  them- 
selves, I could  not  have  done  what  I have  ; but  they 
did  not,  and  I was  compelled  to  do  these  things.’  I 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  208 

then  said : ‘ I thank  God  that  you  were  the  instru- 
ment selected  by  Him  and  the  people  to  do  it.’ 

44  He  then  showed  me  the  Bible  presented  to  him 
by  the  colored  people  of  Baltimore,  of  which  you 
have  heard.  I have  seen  it  for  myself,  ■and  it  is 
beautful  beyond  description.  After  I had  looked  it 
over,  I said  to  him  : * This  is  beautiful  indeed  ; the 
colored  people  have  given  this  to  the  Head  of  the 
Government,  and  that  Government  once  sanctioned 
laws  that  would  not  permit  its  people  to  learn 
enough  to  enable  them  to  read  this  Book.  And 
for  what  ? Let  them  answer  who  can.’ 

“ I must  say,  and  I am  proud  to  say,  that  I never 
was  treated  by  any  one  with  more  kindness  and 
cordiality  than  was  shown  me  by  that  great  and 
good  man,  Abraham  Lincoln,  by  the  grace  of  God 
President  of  the  United  States  for  four  years  more. 
He  took  my  little  book,  and  with  the  same  hand 
that  signed  the  death-warrant  of  slavery,  he  wrote 
as  follows : — 

4 For  Aunty  Sojourner  Truth, 

4 Oct.  29, 1864.  A.  Lincoln.’ 

44  As  I was  taking-  mv  leave,  he  arose  and  took 
my  hand,  and  said  he  would  be  pleased  to  have  me 
call  again.  I felt  that  I was  in  the  presence  of  a 
friend,  and  I now  thank  God  from  the  bottom  of 
my  heart  that  I ahfays  have  advocated  his  cause, 
and  have  done  it  openly  and  boldly.  I shall  feel 
still  more  in  duty  bound  to  do  so  in  time  to  come. 
May  God  assist  me.” 


204  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


Mr.  Lincoln’s  cordial  reception  of  Frederick 
Douglass,  the  distinguished  anti-slavery  orator,  also 
once  a slave,  was  widely  made  known  through  that 
gentleman’s  own  account  of  it  in  one  his  public  lec- 
tures. 

In  August  or  September,  1864,  Mr.  Douglass 
again  visited  Washington.  The  President  heard  of 
his  being  in  the  city,  and  greatly  desiring  a second 
conversation  upon  points  on  which  he  considered 
the  opinion  and  advice  of  a man  of  Mr.  Douglass’s 
antecedents  valuable,  he  sent  his  carriage  to  the 
hoarding-house  where  he  was  staying,  with  a re- 
quest tnat  Mr.  D.  would  “ come  up  and  take  a cup 
of  tea  with  him.  The  invitation  was  accepted  ; 
and  probaoly  never  before,  in  our  history,  was  the 
executive  carriage  employed  to  convey  such  a guest 
to  the  Wmte  House.  Mr.  Douglass  subsequently 
remarked  that  “ Mr.  Lincoln  was  one  of  the  few 
white  men  he  ever  passed  an  hour  with,  who  failed 
to  remind  him  in  some  way,  before  the  interview 
terminated,  that  he  was  a ‘ negro.’  ” 

A memorial,  on  a certain  occasion,  was  present- 
ed to  the  President  from  the  children  and  young 
people  of  Concord,  Mass.,  petitioning  for  the  free- 
dom of  all  slave  children.  In  reply,  he  wrote  the 
following : — 

“ Tell  those  little  people  I*am  very  glad  their 
young  hearts  are  so  full  of  just  and  generous  sym- 
pathy, and  that  while  I have  not  the  power  to  grant 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  20.5 

all  they  ask,  I trust  they  will  remember  that  God 
has  ; and  that  as  it  seems  He  wills  to  do  it. 

A.  Lincoln.  ’ 


LIX. 

“ On  New  Year’s  day,  1865,”  wrote  a corre- 
spondent of  the  New  York  “ Independent,”  “ a 
memorable  incident  occurred,  of  which  the  like 
was  never  before  seen  at  the  White  House.  I had 
noticed,  at  sundry  times  during  the  summer,  the 
wild  fervor  and  strange  enthusiasm  which  our  col- 
ored friends  always  manifest  over  the  name  of 
Abraham  Lincoln.  His  name  with  them  seems 
to  be  associated  with  that  of  his  namesake,  the  Fathei 
of  the  Faithful.  In  the  great  crowds  which  gathex 
from  time  to  time  in  front  of  the  White  House,  in 
honor  of  the  President,  none  shout  so  loudly  or  so 
wildly,  and  swing  their  hats  with  such  utter  aban- 
don, while  their  eyes  are  beaming  with  the  intensest 
joy,  as  do  these  simple-minded  and  grateful  people. 
I have  often  laughed  heartily  at  these  exhibitions. 
But  the  scene  yesterday  excited  far  other  emotions. 
As  I entered  the  door  of  the  President’s  House,  I 
noticed  groups  of  colored  people  gathered  here  and 
there,  who  seemed  to  be  watching  earnestly  the  in- 
pouring throng.  For  nearly  two  hours  they  hung 
around,  until  the  crowd  of  white  visitors  began  sen- 
sibly to  diminish.  Then  they  summoned  up  cour- 
age, and  began  timidly  to  approach  the  door.  Some 


206 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


of  them  were  richly  and  gavly  dressed  ; some  were 
in  tattered  garments,  and  others  in  the  most  fanciful 
and  grotesque  costume.  All  pressed  eagerly  for- 
ward. When  they  came  into  the  presence  of  the 
President,  doubting  as  to  their  reception,  the  feel- 
ings of  the  poor  creatures  overcame  them,  and  here 
the  scene  baffles  my  powers  of  description. 

“ For  two  long  hours  Mr.  Lincoln  had  been 
shaking  the  hands  of  the  ‘ sovereigns,’  and  had 
become  excessively  weary,  and  his  grasp  languid  ; 
but  here  his  nerves  rallied  at  the  unwonted  sight, 
and  he  welcomed  this  motley  crowd  with  a hearti- 
ness that  made  them  wild  with  exceeding  joy. 
They  laughed  and  wept,  and  wept  and  laughed,  — 
exclaiming,  through  their  blinding  tears : ‘ God 
bless  you  ! ’ ‘ God  bless  Abraham  Lincoln  ! ’ 

‘ God  bress  Massa  Linkum  ! ’ Those  who  wit- 
nessed this  scene  will  not  soon  forget  it.  For  a 
long  distance  down  the  Avenue,  on  my  way  home, 
I heard  fast  young  men  cursing  the  President  for 
this  act ; but  all  the  way  the  refrain  rang  in  my 
ears,  — ‘ God  bless  Abraham  Lincoln  ! ’ ” 

Miss  Betsey  Canedy,  of  Fall  River,  Massachu- 
setts, while  engaged  in  teaching  a school  among 
the  colored  people  of  Norfolk,  Virginia,  had  in  hei 
school-room  a plaster  bust  of  the  President.  One 
day  she  called  some  colored  carpenters  who  were  at 
work  on  the  building,  and  showed  it  to  them,  writ- 
ing down  their  remarks,  some  of  which  were  as 
follows  : — 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  207 

“He’s  brought  us  safe  through  the  Red  Sea.’ 
“He  looks  as  deep  as  the  sea  himself.”  “He’s 
king  of  the  United  States.”  “ He  ought  to  be 
king  of  all  the  world.”  “ We  must  all  pray  to  the 
Lord  to  carry  him  safe  through,  for  it  ’pears  like 
he’s  got  everything  hitched  to  him.”  “ There  has 
been  a right  smart  praying  for  him,  and  it  must  n’t 
stop  now.’i, 

A southern  correspondent  of  the  New  York 
“ Tribune,”  in  Charleston,  Soutli  Carolina,  the 
week  following  the  assassination,  wrote  : — 

“ I never  saw  such  sad  faces,  or  heard  such 
heavy  hearts  beatings,  as  here  in  Charleston  the 
day  the  dreadful  news  came  ! The  colored  people 
— the  native  loyalists  — were  like  children  be- 
reaved of  an  only  and  loved  parent.  I saw  one 
old  woman  going  up  the  street  wringing  her  hands 
and  saving  aloud,  as  she  walked  looking  straight 
before  her,  so  absorbed  in  her  grief  that  she  noticed 
no  one,  — 

“ ‘ O Lord  ! O Lord  ! O Lord ! Massa  Sam ’s 
dead  ! Massa  Sam ’s  dead ! O Lord  ! Massa  Sam ’s 
dead ! ’ 

“ ‘ Who ’s  dead,  Aunty  ? ’ I asked  her. 

“ ‘ Massa  Sam  ! ’ she  said,  not  looking  at  me,  — 
renewing  her  lamentations:  ‘ O Lord!  O Loid  I 
Lord  ! Massa  Sam ’s  dead  ! ’ 

“ ‘ Who  ’s  Massa  Sam  ? ’ I asked. 

“ ‘ Uncle  Sam  ! ’ she  said.  ‘ O Lord  ! Lord  ! ’ 

“ I was  not  quite  sure  that  she  meant  the  Pres- 
ident, and  I spoke  again  : — 


208  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

“ ‘ Who ’s  Massa  Sam,  Aunty  ? ’ 

“ ‘ Mr.  Lincum  ! ’ she  said,  and  resumed  wringing 
her  hands  and  moaning  in  utter  hopelessness  of  sor- 
row. The  poor  creature  was  too  ignorant  to  com- 
prehend any  difference  between  the  very  unreal 
Uncle  Sam  and  the  actual  President ; but  her  heart 
told  her  that  he  whom  Heaven  had  sent  in  answer 
to  her  prayers  was  lying  in  a bloody  grave,  and  she 
and  her  race  were  left — fatherless .” 

In  1863,  Colonel  McKaye,  of  New  York,  with 
Robert  Dale  Owen  and  one  or  two  other  gentle- 
men, were  associated  as  a committee  to  investigate 
the  condition  of  the  freedmen  on  the  coast  of  North 
Carolina.  Upon  their  return  from  Hilton  Head 
they  reported  to  the  President ; and  in  the  course 
of  the  interview  Colonel  McKaye  related  the  fol- 
lowing incident. 

He  had  been  speaking  of  the  ideas  of  power 
entertained  by  these  people.  He  said  they  had  an 
idea  of  God,  as  the  Almighty,  and  they  had  real- 
ized in  their  former  condition  the  power  of  their 
masters.  Up  to  the  time  of  the  arrival  among 
them  of  the  Union  forces,  they  had  no  knowledge 
of  any  other  power.  Their  masters  fled  upon  the 
approach  of  our  soldiers,  and  this  gave  the  slaves  a 
conception  of  a power  greater  than  that  exercised 
by  them.  This  power  they  called  “ Massa  Lin- 
kum.” 

Colonel  McKaye  said  that  their  place  of  worship 
was  a large  building  which  they  called  “ the  praise 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  209 

house  ; ” and  the  leader  of  the  meeting,  a ven- 
erable black  man,  Avas  known  as  “ the  praise  man.” 
On  a certain  day,  Avhen  there  was  quite  a large 
gathering  of  the  people,  considerable  confusion  Avas 
created  by  different  persons  attempting  to  tell  Avho 
and  Avhat  “ Massa  Linkum  ” AAras.  In  the  midst  of 
the  excitement  the  AAdiite-headed  leader  commanded 
silence.  “Brederin,”  said  he,  “you  don’t  know 
nosen’  what  you’se  talkin’  ’bout.  Noav,  you  just 
listen  to  me.  Massa  Linkum,  he  eberyAvhar.  He 
knoAv  eberyting.”  Then,  solemnly  looking  up,  he 
added,  — “He  ivalk  de  earf  like  de  Lord  ! ” 

Colonel  McKaye  told  me  that  Mr.  Lincoln  seemed 
much  affected  by  this  account.  He  did  not  smile, 
as  another  man  might  have  done,  but  got  up  from 
his  chair,  and  Avalked  in  silence  two  or  three  times 
across  the  floor.  As  he  resumed  his  seat,  he  said, 
very  impressively  : “ It  is  a momentous  thing  to 
be  the  instrument,  under  Providence,  of  the  libera- 
tion of  a race.” 

LX. 

The  famous  “ peace  ” conference,  on  board  the 
River  Queen , in  Hampton  Roads,  between  Pres- 
ident Lincoln  and  Secretary  Seward,  and  the  Rebel 
commissioners  Stephens,  Hunter,  and  Campbell, 
took  place  the  3d  of  February,  1865.  A few  days 
afterward*  I asked  the  President  if  it  Avas  true, 

* My  “six  months  ” proper,  at  the  White  House,  terminated,  as  will 
be  seen,  the  last  week  in  July,  1864.  February  and  a part  of  March 
14 


210  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


as  reported  by  the  New  York  “ Herald,”  that  he 
told  a “little  story”  on  that  occasion?  — “Why,” 
said  he,  “ has  it  leaked  out  ? I was  in  hopes 
nothing  would  be  said  about  that , lest  some  over- 
sensitive people  should  imagine  there  was  a degree 
of  levity  in  the  intercourse  between  us.”  He  then 
went  on  to  relate  the  circumstances  which  called  it 
out.  “ You  see,”  said  he,  “ we  had  reached  and 
were  discussing  the  slavery  question.  Mr.  Hunter 
said,  substantially,  that  the  slaves,  always  accus- 
tomed to  an  overseer,  and  to  work  upon  compul- 
sion, suddenly  freed,  as  they  would  be  if  the  South 
should  consent  to  peace  on  the  basis  of  the  ‘ Eman- 
cipation Proclamation,’  would  precipitate  not  only 
themselves  but  the  entire  Southern  society  into 
irremediable  ruin.  No  work  would  be  done,  noth- 
ing would  be  cultivated,  and  both  blacks  and  whites 
would  starve /”  Said  the  President,  “I  waited  for 
Seward  to  answer  that  argument,  but  as  he  was 
silent,  I at  length  said  : ‘ Mr.  Huntei-,  you  ought  to 
know  a great  deal  better  about  this  matter  than  I , 
for  you  have  always  lived  under  the  slave  system. 
I can  only  say,  in  reply  to  your  statement  of  the 
case,  that  it  reminds  me  of  a man  out  in  Illinois,  by 
the  name  of  Case,  who  undertook,  a few  years  ago, 
to  raise  a very  large  herd  of  hogs.  It  was  a great 
trouble  to  feed  them,  and  how  to  get  around  this 
was  a puzzle  to  him.  At  length  he  hit  on  the  plan 

following  I passed  in  Washington,  and  was  privileged  with  a renewal 
of  mj  previous  intercourse  with  Mr.  Lincoln. 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  211 

of  planting  an  immense  field  of  potatoes,  and,  when 
they  were  sufficiently  grown,  he  turned  the  whole 
herd  into  the  field,  and  let  them  have  full  swing, 
thus  saving  not  only  the  labor  of  feeding  the  hogs, 
but  also  that  of  digging  the  potatoes.  Charmed 
with  his  sagacity,  he  stood  one  day  leaning  against 
the  fence,  counting  his  hogs,  when  a neighbor  came 
along.  ‘Well,  well,’  said  he,  ‘Mr.  Case,  this  is  all 
very  fine.  Your  hogs  are  doing  very  well  just  now, 
but  you  know  out  here  in  Illinois  the  frost  comes 
early,  and  the  ground  freezes  a foot  deep.  Then 
what  are  they  going  to  do  ? ’ This  was  a view  of 
the  matter  Mr.  Case  had  not  taken  into  account. 
Butchering-time  for  hogs  was  ’way  on  in  December 
or  January.  He  scratched  his  head,  and  at  length 
stammered,  ‘Well,  it  may  come  pretty  hard  on 
their  snouts , but  I don’t  see  but  that  it  will  be 
‘(  root,  hog,  or  die  ! ” ’ 

“ Shortly  afterward,”  he  continued,  “ a reference 
was  casually  made  to  Colonel  Hardin,  who  was 
killed  in  the  Mexican  War,  — who  at  one  time  was 
a representative  in  Congress  from  Illinois  ; and  this 
drew  out  a story  from  Stephens.  ‘ On  a certain 
occasion,’  he  said,  ‘when  the  House  was  in  session, 
a dispute  arose  between  Hardin  and  others  of  the 
Illinois  delegation  as  to  the  proper  pronunciation  of 
the  name  of  their  State.  Some  insisted  it  was 
“ Illinoy”  others  as  stoutly  that  it  was  “ Illinois .” 
Hardin  at  length  appealed  to  the  venerable  John 
Quincy  Adams.  “ If  one  were  to  judge  from  the 


212  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


character  of  the  representatives  in  this  Congress 
from  that  State,”  said  the  O-d  man,  with  a mali- 
cious smile,  “ I should  decide  unhesitatingly  that  the 
proper  pronunciation  was  ‘ All  noise  ! ’ ” ’ ” 

In  the  Augusta  (Ga.)  “ Chronicle,”  of  the  17th 
of  June,  1865,  there  appeared  a report  of  this  con- 
ference, purporting  to  have  been  written  out  from 
the  lips  of  Mr.  Stephens,  so  characteristic  of  Mr. 
Lincoln,  that  I subjoin  the  following  extracts : — 

“ The  three  Southern  gentlemen  met  Mr.  Lincoln 
and  Mr.  Seward,  and  after  some  preliminary  re- 
marks, the  subject  of  peace  was  opened.  Mr.  Ste- 
phens, well  aware  that  one  who  asks  much  may  get 
more  than  he  who  confesses  to  humble  wishes  at  the 
outset,  urged  the  claims  of  his  section  with  that  skill 
and  address  for  which  the  Northern  papers  have 
given  him  credit.  Mr.  Lincoln,  holding  the  van- 
tage-ground of  conscious  power,  was,  however,  per- 
fectly frank,  and  submitted  his  views  almost  in  the 
form  of  an  argument. 

“ Davis  had  on  this  occasion,  as  on 

that  of  Mr.  Stephens’s  visit  to  Washington,  made  it 
a condition  that  no  conference  should  be  had  uidess 
his  rank  as  commander  or  President  should  first  be 
recognized.  Mr.  Lincoln  declared  that  the  only 
ground  on  which  he  could  rest  the  justice  of  the 
war  — either  with  his  own  people  or  with  foreign 
powers  — was  that  it  was  not  a war  for  conquest, 
for  that  the  States  had  never  been  separated  from 
the  Union.  Consequently,  he  could  not  recognize 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  21 3 


another  government  inside  of  the  one  of  which  he 
alone  was  President,  nor  admit  the  separate  inde- 
pendence of  States  that  were  yet  a part  of  the 
Union.  ‘ That,’  said  he,  ‘ would  be  doing  what 
you  have  so  long  asked  Europe  to  do  in  vain,  and 
be  resigning  the  only  thing  the  armies  of  the  Union 
are  fighting  for.’ 

“ Mr.  Hunter  made  a long  reply  to  this,  insisting 
that  the  recognition  of  Davis’s  power  to  ‘make  a 
treaty  was  the  first  and  indispensable  step  to  peace, 
and  referred  to  the  correspondence  between  King 
Charles  I.  and  his  Parliament,  as  a trustworthy 
precedent  of  a constitutional  ruler  treating  with 
rebels. 

“ Mr.  Lincoln’s  face  then  wore  that  indescribable 
expression  which  generally  preceded  his  hardest  hits, 
and  he  remarked : ‘ Upon  questions  of  history  I 
must  refer  you  to  Mr.  Seward,  for  he  is  posted 
in  such  things,  and  I don’t  pretend  to  be  bright. 
My  only  distinct  recollection  of  the  matter  is,  that 
■Charles  lost  his  head.’  That  settled  Mr.  Hunter  for 
a while.” 

“ During  the  interview  it  appears  that  Hunter 
declared  that  he  had  never  entertained  any  fears  for 
his  person  or  life  from  so  mild  a government  as  that 
of  the  United  States.  To  which  Mr.  Lincoln  re- 
torted that  he,  also,  had  felt  easy  as  to  the  Rebels, 
but  not  always  so  easy  about  the  lamp-posts  around 
Washington  City,  — a hint  that  he  had  already 


214  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


done  more  favors  for  the  Rebels  than  was  exactly 
popular  with  the  radical  men  of  his  own  party. 

“ Mr.  Lincoln’s  manner  had  now  grown  more 
positive.  He  suggested  that  it  would  be  better  for 
the  Rebel  States  to  return  at  once  than  to  risk  the 
chances  of  continuing  the  war,  and  the  increasing 
bitterness  of  feeling  in  Congress.  The  time  might 
come,  he  said,  when  they  would  not  be  considered 
as  an  erring  people  invited  back  to  citizenship,  but 
would  be  looked  upon  as  enemies  to  be  exterminated 
or  ruined. 

“ During  the  conference,  the  amendment  to  the 
Federal  Constitution,  which  has  just  been  adopted 
by  Congress,  was  read,  providing  that  neither  slavery 
nor  involuntary  servitude,  except  for  crime,  should 
exist  within  the  United  States,  or  any  place  within 
its  jurisdiction,  and  Congress  should  have  power  to 
enforce  the  amendment  by  appropriate  legislation.” 
The  report  says,  “ Mr.  Seward  then  remarked  : Mr 
President,  it  is  as  well  to  inform  these  gentlemen 
that  yesterday  Congress  acted  upon  the  amendment 
of  the  Constitution  abolishing  slavery.” 

. “ Mr.  Lincoln  stated  this  to  be  true,  and  suggested 
that  there  was  a question  as  to  the  right  of  the  in- 
surgent States  to  return  at  once  and  claim  a right 
to  vote  upon  the  amendment,  to  which  the  concur- 
rence of  two  thirds  of  the  States  was  required.  He 
stated  that  it  would  be  desirable  to  have  the  insti- 
tution of  slavery  abolished  by  the  consent  of  the 
people  as  soon  as  possible,  — he  hoped  within  six 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  215 

years.  He  also  stated  that  four  hundi'ed  millions 
of  dollars  might  be  offered  as  compensation  to  the 
owners,  and  remarked,  ‘ You  would  be  surprised 
were  I to  give  you  the  names  of  those  who  favor 
that.’  ” 

“ Mr.  Stephens  came  home  with  a new  cause  of 
sorrow,  and  those  who  said  he  talked  of  coming 
home  to  make  war  speeches  and  denounce  the  terms 
offered,  simply  lied.  Before  Mr.  Lincoln’s  death, 
he  thought  he  was  doing  a favor  to  him  not  to  in- 
elude  that  offer  of  four  hundred  millions  in  gold  for 

<D 

the  Southern  slaves  in  the  published  report,  for  it 
would  be  used  to  the  injury  of  Mr.  Lincoln  by  those 
of  his  enemies  who  talk  about  taxation  and  the 
debt. 

“ Mr.  Stephens  has  frequently  expressed  no  ap- 
prehensions should  the  fortunes  of  war  throw  him 
into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  and  said  he  would 
not  get  out  of  the  way  of  a raid  were  it  not  for 
appearances,  on  account  of  the  office  he  held.  He 
spoke  of  Mr.  Lincoln  as  an  old  friend  who  had 
generally  voted  with  him  in  Congress,  and  who  Had 
a good  heart  and  fine  mind,  and  was  undoubtedly 
honest.” 

LXI. 

Visitors  to  the  Executive  Chamber,  during  the 
administration  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  will  remember  the 
lithographic  map,  showing  the  slave  population  of 


216  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


the  Southern  States  in  graduated  light  and  shade, 
■which  usually  leaned  against  a leg  of  his  desk  or 
table,  and  bore  the  marks  of  much  service.  The 
States  and  counties  most  abounding  in  slaves  were 


indicated  on  this  map  by  -degrees  of  blackness,  so 
that  by  a glance  the  proportion  of  whites  and  blacks 
in  the  different  States  at  the  commencement  of  the 
Rebellion  could  be  easily  comprehended. 

Wishing  to  introduce  this  map  into  my  picture, 
I carried  it  off  one  day,  without  the  President’s 
knowledge,  and  as  the  copying  of  it  was  a tedious 
affair,  it  remained  in  the  studio  for  some  time.  This 
chanced  to  be  during  the  week  of  Kilpatrick’s  great 
cavalry  raid  in  Virginia.  One  afternoon  the  Pres- 
ident came  in  alone,  as  was  his  wont,  — the  obser- 
vation of  the  daily  progress  of  the  picture  appearing 
to  afford  him  a species  of  recreation.  Presently  his 
eye  fell  upon  the  map,  leaning  against  a chair,  as  I 
had  left  it  after  making  the  study.  “Ah!”  said 
he,  “ you  have  appropriated  my  map,  have  you  ? I 
have  been  looking  all  around  for  it.”  And  with 
that  he  put  on  his  spectacles,  and,  taking  it  up, 
walked  to  the  window  ; and  sitting  down  upon  a 
trunk  began  to  pore  over  it  very  earnestly.  He 
pointed  out  Kilpatrick’s  position,  when  last  heard 
from,  and  said  : — 

“ It  is  just  as  I thought  it  was.  He  is  close 

upon  County,  where  the  slaves  are  thickest. 

Now  we  ought  to  get  a ‘ heap  ’ of  them,  when  he 
returns.”  * 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  217 

This  conversation  occurred,  I recollect,  just  after 
his  solitary  lunch,  — the  family  being  away  at 
the  time.  It  was  often  a matter  of  surprise  to  me 
how  the  President  sustained  life ; Tor  it  seemed, 
some  weeks,  as  though  he  neither  ate  nor  slept. 
His  habits  continued  as  simple  as  when  he  was  a 
practising  lawyer  in  Springfield,  but  they  came  to 
be  very  irregular.  During  the  months  of  my  inter- 
course with  him  he  rarely  entertained  company  at 
dinner.  Almost  daily,  at  this  hour,  I met  a servant 
carrying  a simple  meal  upon  a tray  up-stairs,  where 
it  was  received,  perhaps  two  houre  later,  in  the 
most  unceremonious  manner.  I knew  this  irregu- 
larity of  life  was  his  own  fault ; but  the  wonder  as 
to  how  his  system  endured  the  strain  brought  to 
bear  upon  it  was  not  lessened  by  this  knowledge. 

All  familiar  with  him  will  remember  the  weary 
air  which  became  habitual  during  his  last  years. 
This  was  more  of  the  mind  than  the  body,  and  no 
rest  and  recreation  which  he  allowed  himself  could 
relieve  it.  As  he  sometimes  expressed  it,  the  rem- 
edy u seemed  never  to  x’each  the  tired  spot.” 

Mr.  Lincoln’s  height  was  six  feet  three  and  three- 
quarter  inches  “ in  his  stocking-feet.”  He  stood 
up,  one  day,  at  the  right  of  my  large  canvas,  while 
I marked  his  exact  height  upon  it. 

His  frame  was  gaunt  but  sinewy,  and  inclined  to 
stoop  when  he  walked.  His  head  was  of  full  me- 
dium size,  with  a broad  br^W,  surmounted  by  rough, 
unmanageable  hair,  which,  he  once  said,  had  “ a 


218  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


way  of  getting  up  as  far  as  possible  in  the  world.’' 
Lines  of  care  ploughed  his  face,  — the  hollows  in 
his  cheeks  and  under  his  eyes  being  very  marked. 
The  mouth  was  his  plainest  feature,  varying  widely 
from  classical  models,  — nevertheless  expressive  of 
much  firmness  and  gentleness  of  character. 

His  complexion  was  inclined  to  sallowness,  though 
I judged  this  to  be  the  result,  in  part,  of  his  anxious 
life  in  Washington.  His  eyes  were  blueish-gray  in 
color,  — always  in  deep  shadow,  however,  from  the 
upper  lids,  which  were  unusually  heavy,  (remind- 
ing me,  in  this  respect,  of  Stuart’s  portrait  of  Wash- 
ington,) — and  the  expression  was  remarkably  pen- 
sive and  tender,  often  inexpressibly  sad,  as  if  the 
reservoir  of  tears  lay  very  near  the  surface,  — a 
fact  proved  not  only  by  the  response  which  accounts 
of  suffering  and  sorrow  invariably  drew  forth,  but 
by  circumstances  which  would  ordinarily  affect  few 
men  in  his-position. 

The  Hon.  Mr.  Frank,  of  New  York,  told  me 
that  just  after  the  nomination  of  Mr.  Chase  as 
Chief  Justice,  a deeply  interesting  conversation 
upon  this  subject  took  place  one  evening  between 
himself  and  the  President,  in  Mrs.  Lincoln’s  private 
sitting-room.  Mr.  Lincoln  reviewed  Mr.  Chase’s 
political  course  and  aspirations  at  some  length,  al- 
luding to  what  he  had  felt  to  be  an  estrangement 
from  him  personally,  and  to  various  sarcastic  and 
bitter  expressions  repdrtgd  to  him  as  having  been 
indulged  in  by  the  ex-Secretary,  both  before  and 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  21  £ 

after  his  resignation.  The  Congressman  replied 
that  such  reports  were  always  exaggerated,  and 
spoke  very  warmly  of  Mr.  Chase’s  great  services  in 
the  hour  of  the  country’s  extremity,  his  patriotism, 
and  integrity  to  principle.  The  tears  instantly 
sprang  into  Mr.  Lincoln’s  eyes.  “ Yes,”  said  he, 
“ that  is  true.  We  have  stood  together  in  the  time 
of  trial,  and  I should  despise  myself  if  I allowed 
personal  differences  to  affect  my  judgment  of  his 
fitness  for  the  office  of  Chief  Justice.” 


lxh. 

The -President’s  friend,  the  Hon.  H.  C.  Deming 
of  Connecticut,  once  ventured  to  ask  him  “ if  he 
had  ever  despaired  of  the  country?”  “ When  the 
Peninsula  campaign  terminated  suddenly  at  Har- 
rison’s Landing,”  rejoined  Mr.  Lincoln,  “ I was 
as  nearly  inconsolable  as  I could  be  and»live.”  In 
the  same  connection  Colonel  Deming  inquired  if 
there  had  ever  been  a period  in  which  he  thought 
that  better  management  upon  the  part  of  the 
commanding  general  might  have  terminated  the 
war  ? “ Yes,”  answered  the  President,  “ there  were 
three:  at  ‘ Malvern  Hill,’  when  McClellan  failed  to 
command  an  immediate  advance  upon  Richmond  ; 
at  ‘ Chancellorville,’  when  Hooker  failed  to  reen- 
force Sedgwick,  after  hearing  his  cannon  upon  the 
extreme  right ; and  at  ‘ Gettysburg, ’ when  Meade 
failed  to  attack  Lee  in  his  retreat  at  the  bend  of  the 


220  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


Potomac.”  After  this  commentary,  the  Congress- 
man waited  for  an  outburst  of  denunciation  — for  a 
criticism,  at  least — upon  the  delinquent  officers ; but 
he  waited  in  vain.  So  far  from  a word  of  censure 
escaping  Mr.  Lincoln’s  lips,  he  soon  added,  that  Jiis 
first  remark  might  not  appear  uncharitable  : “ I do 
not  know  that  I could  have  given  any  different 
orders  had  I been  with  them  myself.  I have  not 
fully  made  up^my  mind  how  I should  behave  when 
minie-balls  were  whistling,  and  those  great  oblong 
shells  shrieking  in  my  ear.  I might  run  away.” 

The  interview  at  which  this  conversation  took 
place,  occurred  just  after  General  Fremont  had  de- 
clined to  run  against  him  for  the  presidency.  The 
magnificent  Bible  which  the  negroes  of  Baltimore 
had  just  presented  to  him  lay  upon  the  table,  and 
while  examining  it,  Colonel  Deming  recited  the 
somewhat  remarkable  passage  from  the  Chronicles  : 
“ Eastward  were  six  Levites,  northward  four  a day, 
southward  four  a day,  and  toward  Assuppim,  two 
and  two.  • At  Parbar  westward,  four  at  the  cause- 
way, and  two  at  Parbar.”  The  President  imme- 
diately challenged  his  friend  to  find  any  such  pas- 
sage in  his  Bible.  After  it  was  pointed  out  to  him, 
and  he  was  satisfied  of  its  genuineness,  he  asked  the 
Congressman  if  he  remembered  the  text  which  his 
friends  had  recently  applied  to  Fremont,  and  in- 
stantly turned  to  a verse  in  the  first  of  Samuel,  put 
on  his  spectacles,  and  read  in  his  slow,  peculiar,  and 
waggish  tone  : “ And  every  one  that  was  in  distress, 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


221 


and  every  one  that  was  in  debt,  and  every  one  that 
was  discontented,  gathered  themselves  unto  him, 
and  he  became  a captain  over  them,  and  there  were 
with  him  about  four  hundred  men.” 


Lxin. 

' The  letter  of  General  Fremont  withdrawing  from 
the  presidential  canvass  of  1864,  after  having  ac- 
cepted the  nomination  of  the  Cleveland  Conven- 
tion, was  an  unfortunate  one  for  his  political  repu- 
tation, whatever  may  have  been  thought  of  the 
military  career  of  that  once  popular  leader.  With- 
out attempting  any  discussion  of  the  merits  of  the 
controversy  between  him  and  the  Government,  I 
think  it  cannot  be  denied  that  Mr.  Lincoln  ever 
bore  toward  General  Fremont  the  sincerest  good 
will,  though  for  reasons  perhaps  not  yet  fairly  esti- 
mated, as  a commander  he  had  failed  to  realize  the 
public  expectation. 

Some  months  subsequent  to  Fremont’s  removal 
from  the  Western  Department,  one  of  his  personal 
friends,  Mr.  Henry  C.  Bowen,  of  Brooklyn,  hap- 
pened to  be  in  Washington.  Passing  the  Executive 
Chamber,  on  his  way  to  the  private  secretary’s  of- 
fice one  day,  he  observed  the  door  ajar,  and  the 
President  standing  near  it,  in  the  act  of  taking 
down  a book  from  the  bookcase.  Catching  a glimpse 
of  him,  Mr.  Lincoln  said,  “ Come  in  ; you  are  the 
very  man  I want  to  see.”  Mr.  Bowen  entered  the 


222  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


office,  and  the  President,  laying  aside  other  busi- 
ness, said : “ I have  been  thinking  a great  deal 
lately  about  Fremont;  and  I want  to  ask  you,  as  an 
old  friend  of  his,  what  is  thought  about  his  contin- 
uing inactive  ? ” “ Mr.  President,”  returned  Mr. 

Bowen,  “ I will  say  to  you  frankly,  that  a large 
class  of  people  feel  that  General  Fremont  has  been 
badly  treated,  and  nothing  would  'give  more  satis- 
faction, both  to  him  and  to  his  friends,  than  his  re- 
appointment to  a command  commensurate,  in  some 
degree,  with  his  rank  and  ability.”  “ Do  you  think 
he  would  accept  an  inferior  position  to  that  he  occu- 
pied in  Missouri  ? ” asked  the  President.  “ I have 
that  confidence  in  General  Fremont’s  patriotism, 
that  I venture  to  promise  for  him  in  advance,”  was 
the  earnest  reply.  “Well,”  rejoined  Mr.  Lincoln, 
thoughtfully,  “ I have  had  it  on  my  mind  for  some 
time  that  Fremont  should  be  given  a chance  to  re- 
deem himself.  The  great  hue  and  cry  about  him 
has  been  concerning  his  expenditure  of  the  public 
money.  I have  looked  into  the  matter  a little, 
and  I can’t  see  as  he  has  done  any  worse  or  any 
more,  in  that  line,  than  our  Eastern  commanders. 
At  any  rate,  lie  shall  have  another  trial ! ” The 
result,  close  upon  this  interview,  was  the  appoint- 
ment of  Fremont  to  the  “ Mountain  Department 
of  Western  Virginia.” 

While  Mr.  Bowen  was  in  Washington,  he  drove 
out,  by  invitation  one  evening,  with  one  or  two 
friends,  to  the  Soldier’s  Home,  where  the  Presi- 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  223 

dent  spent  the  nights  of  midsummer.  More  at  leis- 
ure there  than  at  the  “shop,”  as  he  was  in  the  habit 
of  callincr  his  official  chamber  at  the  White  House, 
Mr.  Lincoln  sat  down  with  the  party  for  a leisurely 
[conversation.  “ I know,”  he  said  to  Mr.  Bowen, 
'•‘that  you  are  a great  admirer  of  Mr.  Chase  and 
Mr.  Seward.  Now,  I will  tell  you  a circumstance 
that  may  please  you.  Before  sunset  of  election-day, 
in  I860,  I was  pretty  sure,  from  the  despatches  I 
received,  that  I was  elected.  The  very  first  thing 
that  I settled  in  my  mind,  after  reaching  this  con- 
clusion, was  that  these  two  great  , leaders  of  the 
party  should  occupy  the  two  first  places  in  my 
cabinet.” 

LXIY. 

“ The  Soldier’s  Home,”  -writes  a California 
lady,*  who  visited  Mr.  Lincoln  there,  “ is  a few  miles 
out  of  Washington  on  the  Maryland  side.  It  is  situa- 
ted on  a beautifully  wooded  hill,  which  you  ascend  by 
a winding  path,  shaded  on  both  sides  by  wide-spread 
branches,  forming  a green  arcade  above  you.  When 
you  reach  the  top  you  stand  between  two  mansions, 
large,  handsome,  and  substantial,  but  with  nothing 
about  them  indicative  of  the  character  of  either. 
That  on  your  left  is  the  Presidential  country-house ; 
that  directly  before  you,  the  ‘ Rest  ’ for  soldiers  who 

are  too  old  for  further  service The 

‘ Home  ’ only  admitted  soldiers  of  the  regular  army  ; 
but  in  the  graveyard  near  at  hand  there  are  num- 


* San  Francisco  Bulletin. 


224  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


berless  graves  — some  without,  a spear  of  grass  to 
hide  their  newness  — that  hold  the  bodies  of  volun- 
teers. 

“ While  we  stood  in  the  soft  evening  air,  watch- 
ing the  faint  trembling  of  the  long  tendrils  of  wav- 
ing willow,  and  feeling  the  dewy  coolness  that  was 
flung  out  by  the  old  oaks  above  us,  Mr.  Lincoln 
joined  us,  and  stood  silent,  too,  taking  in  the  scene. 

“ 1 How  sleep  the  brave,  who  sink  to  rest 
By  all  their  country’s  wishes  blest,’  — 

he  said,  softly. 

“ There  was  something  so  touching  in  the  picture 
opened  before  us,  — the  nameless  graves,  the  solemn 
quiet,  the  tender  twilight  air,  but  more  particularly 
our  Own  feminine  disposition  to  be  easily  melted,  I 
suppose,  — that  it  made  us  cry  as  if  we  stood  beside 
the  tomb  of  our  own  dead,  and  gave  point  to  the 
lines  which  he  afterwards  quoted : — 

“ ‘ And  women  o’er  the  graves  shall  weep, 

Where  nameless  Heroes  calmly  sleep.’  ” 


“•Around  the  ‘ Home  ’ grows  every  variety  of 
tree,  particularly  of  the  evergreen  class.  Their 
branches  brushed  into  the  carriage  as  we  passed 
along,  and  left  with  us  that  pleasant,  woody  smell 
.belonging  to  leaves.  One  of  the  ladies,  catching  a 
bit  of  green  from  one  of  these  intruding  branches, 
said  it  was  cedar,  and  another  thought  it  spruce. 

“ ‘ Let  me  discourse  on  a theme  I undei’stand,’ 
said  the  President.  ‘ I know  all  about  trees  in 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  ' 225 

Sight  of  being  a backwoodsman.  I ’ll  show  you 
the  difference  between  spruce,  pine,  and  cedar,  and 
this  shred  of  green,  which  is  neither  one  nor  the 
other,  but  a kind  of  illegitimate  cypress.’  He  then 
proceeded  to  gather  specimens  of  each,  and  ex- 
plain the  distinctive  formation  of  foliage  belonging 
to  every  species.  4 Trees,’  he  said,  4 are  as  decep- 
tive in  their  likeness  to  one  another  as  are  certain 
classes  of  men,  amongst  whom  none  but  a physiog- 
nomist’s eye  can  detect  dissimilar  moral  features 
until  events  have  developed  them.  Do  you  know 
it  would  be  a good  thing  if  in  all  the  schools  pro- 
posed and  carried  out  by  the  improvement  of  mod- 
ern thinkers,  we  could  have  a school  of  events?’ 

44  4 A school  of  events  ? ’ repeated  the  lady  he 
addressed. 

44  4 Yes,’  he  continued,  4 since  it  is  only  by  that 
active  development  that  character  and  ability  can 
be  tested.  Understand  me,  I now  mean  iflen,  not 
trees  ; they  can  be  tried,  and  an  analysis  of  their 
strength  obtained  less  expensive  to  life  and  human 
interests  than  man’s.  What  I say  now  is  a ijiere 
whimsey,  you  know  ; but  when  I speak  of  a school 
of  events,  I mean  one  in  which,  before  entering 
real  life,  students  might  pass  through  the  mimic 
vicissitudes  and  situations  that  are  necessary  to 
bring  out  their  powers  and  mark  the  calibre  to 
which  they  are  assigned.  Thus,  one  could  select 
from  the  graduates  an  invincible  soldier,  equal  to 
any  position,  with  no  such  word  as  fail  ; a martyr 
15 


226  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

to  Right,  ready  to  give  up  life  in  the  cau^e  ; a 
politician  too  cunning  to  be  outwitted;  and  so  on. 
These  things  have  all  to  be  tried,  and  their  some- 
time failure  creates  confusion  as  well  as  disappoint- 
ment. There  is  no  more  dangerous  or  expensive 
analysis  than  that  which  consists  of  trying  a man.’ 

“ ‘ Do  you  think  all  men  are  tried  ?’  was  asked. 

“ ‘ Scarcely,’  said  Mr.  Lincoln,  4 or  so  many  would 
not  fit  their  place  so  badly.  Your  friend,  Mr. 
Beecher,  being  an  eloquent  man,  explains  this  well 
in  his  quaint  .illustration  of  pgople  out  of  their 
sphere,  — the  clerical  faces  he  has  met  with  in  gay, 
rollicking  life,  and  the  natural  wits  and  good  brains 
that  have  by  a freak  dropped  into  ascetic  robes.’ 

“ ‘ Some  men  seem  able  to  do  what  they  wish  in 
any  position,  being  equal  to  them  all,’  said  some  one. 

‘Versatility,’  replied  the  President,  ‘is  an  inju- 
rious possession,  since  it  never  can  be  greatness.  It 
misleads  you  in  your  calculations  from  its  very  agree- 
ability,  and  it  inevitably  disappoints  you  in  any  great 
trust  from  its  want  of  depth.  A versatile  man,  to 
be  safe  from  execration,  should  never  soar  ; medioc- 
rity is  sure  of  detection.’ 

“ On  our  return  to  the  city  we  had  reached  that 
street  — I forget  its  name  — crossing  which  you 
dnd  yourself  out  of  Maryland  and  in  the  District 
of  Columbia.  Wondering  at  this  visible  boundary 
that  made  certain  laws  and  regulations  apply  to  one 
side  of  a street  that  did  not  reach  the  other,  I lost 
the  conversation,  till  I found  it  consisted  of  a dis- 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  227 

cursive  review  of  General  McClellan’s  character,  in 
which  I was  directly  appealed  to  to  know  if  we  had 
not  at  one  time  considered  him  the  second  Napoleon 
in  California. 

“ I hastened  to  say  that  I had  found,  in  travelling 
in  the  New  England  States,  more  fervent  admirers 
of  the  Unready  than  I had  ever  known  to  expend 
speculative  enthusiasm  upon  him  among  us. 

“ ‘ So  pleasant  and  scholarly  a gentleman  can 
never  fail  to  secure  personal  friends,’  said  the  Presi- 
dent. 1 In  fact,’  he  continued,  kindly, 

‘ “ Even  his  failings  lean  to  virtue’s  side.” 

A keen  sense  of  genius  in  another,  and  a rever- 
ence for  it  that  forced  expression,  was  out  of  place 
at  Seven  Oaks,  as  beautiful  things  sometimes  will 
be.  He  was  lost  in  admiration  of  General  Lee,  and 
filled  with  that  feeling,  forebore  to  conquer  him. 
The  quality  that  would  prove  noble  generosity  in  a 
historian,  does  not  fit  the  soldier.  Another  instance 
of  the  necessity  for  my  suggestion  being  carried  into 
effect,’  he  added,  smiling. 

“ When  in  New  York  a few  months  afterwards, 
I heard  the  regular  dinner-table  conversation  turn 
on  the  ‘ Nero  who  cracked  jokes  while  Rome  was 
burning,’  and  the  hundred  and  one  wicked  things 
the  McClellanites  said  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  I recalled 
the  gentle  verdict  I had  heard,  and  acknowledged 
how  bitterly  a noble  Christian  gentleman  may  be 
belied.  It. was  after  McClellan’s  speech  at  West 


228  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


Point,  and  his  admirei’s  were  wild  with  enthusiasm 
over  the  learning  and  classic  taste  it  displayed. 

* The  word  ‘ scholarly  ’ rang  from  mouth  to  mouth  in 
characterizing  it,  — the  very  word  Mr.  Lincoln  had 
used  months  before  in  finding;  a merciful  excuse  for 
his  inefficiency. 

“ There  is  one  little  incident  connected  with  this 
visit  to  the  Soldier’s  Home  that  remains  with  me  as 
connected  with  my  home  here.  I had  always  no- 
ticed that  the  bare  mention  of  our  California  ceme- 
tery filled  the  minds  of  those  who  heard  it  with  a sol- 
emn sense  of  awe  and  sorrow,  — ‘ Lone  Mountain  ! ’ 
It  seemed  to  rise  before  them  out  of  the  quiet  sea,  a 
vast  mausoleum  from  the  hand  of  God,  wherein  to 
lay  the  dead.  I was  not  astonished,  therefore,  when 
Mr.  Lincoln  alluded  to  it  in  this  way,  and  gave,  in 
a few  deep-toned  words,  a eulogy  on  one  of  its  most 
honored  dead,  Colonel  Baker.  Having  witnessed 
the  impressive  spectacle  of  that*  glorious  soldier’s 
funeral,  I gave  him  the  meagre  outline  one  can 
convey  in  words,  of  something  which,  having  been 
once  seen,  must  remain  a living  picture  in  the 
memory  forever.  I tried  to  picture  the  solemn  hush 
that  lay  like  a pall  on  the  spirit  of  the  people  while 
the  grand  procession  wound  its  mournful  length 
through  the  streets  of  the  citv  out  on  that  tear- 
stained  road  to  the  gate  of  the  cemetery,  where  the 
body  passed  beneath  the  prophetic  words  of  Califor- 
nia’s most  eloquent  soul,  ‘ Hither  in  future  ages  they 
shall  bring/  etc.  When  I spoke  of ‘Starr  King/  I saw 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  229 

how  strong  a chord  I had  touched  in  the  great 
appreciative  heart  I addressed  ; and  giving  a weak 
dilution  of  that  wondrous  draught  of  soul-lit  elo- 
quence, that  funeral  hymn  uttered  by  the  priest  of 
God  over  the  sacred  ashes  of  the  advocate  and  sol- 
dier of  liberty,  whose  thrilling  threnody  seems  yet 
to  linger  in  the  sighing  wind  that  waves  the  grass 
upon  the  soil  made  sacred  by  the  treasure  it  received 
that  day,  I felt  strangely  impressed  as  to  the  power 
and  grandeur  of  that  mind,  whose  thoughts,  at  sec- 
ond-hand and  haltingly  given  from  memory,  could 
move  and  touch  the  soul  of  such  a man  as  Abraham 
Lincoln  as  I saw  it  touched  when  he  listened.  It 
is  the  electric  chain  with  which  all  genius  &nd 
grandeur  of  soul  whatsoever  is  bound,  — the  free- 
masonry by  which  spirit  hails  spirit,  though  unseen. 
Now  they  all  three  meet  where  it  is  not  seeing 
through  a glass  darkly,  but  in  the  light  of  a perfect 
day.”  • 

LXV. 

On  the  morning  of  Mr.  Lincoln’s  arrival  in 
Washington,  just  before  his  inauguration,  it  will 
be  remembered  that  the  Peace  Convention  was  in 
session.  Among  those  who  were  earliest  to  call 
upon  him  was  a gentleman  from  Pennsylvania,  who 
had  been  in  Congress  with  him,  and  who  was  a 
member  of  the  Peace  Convention.  He  at  once 
commenced  plying  the  President  elect  with  ur- 
gent reasons  for  compromising  matters  m dispute, 


230  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


saying,  “ It  must  be  done  sooner  or  later,  and  that 
this  seemed  the  propitious  moment.”  Listening 
attentively  to  all  that  was  said,  Mr.  Lincoln  finally 
replied:  “Perhaps  your  reasons  for  compromising 
the  alleged  difficulties  are  correct,  and  that  now  is 
the  favorable  time  to  do  it  ; still,  if  I remember 
correctly,  that  is  not  what  I was  elected  for  ! ” 

The  same  day,  at  Willard’s  Hotel,  a gentleman 
from  Connecticut  was  introduced,  who  said  he 
wanted  nothing  but  to  take  the  incoming  President 
by  the  hand.  Mr.  Lincoln  surveyed  him  from  head 
to  foot,  and  giving  him  a cordial  grasp,  replied  : 
“ You  are  a rare  man.” 

During  the  brief  period  that  the  Rev.  Henry 
Ward  Beecher  was  editor-in-chief  of  the  “Inde- 
pendent,” in  the  second  year  of  the  war,  he  felt 
called  upon  to  pass  some  severe  strictures  upon  the 
course  of  the  administration.  For  several  weeks 
the  successive  leaders  of  the*editorial  page  were 
like  bugle-blasts,  waking  the  echoes  throughout  the 
country.  Somebody  cut  these  editorials  out  of  the 
different  numbers  of  the  paper,  and  mailed  them  all 
to  the  President  under  one  envelop.  One  rainy 
Sunday  he  took  them  from  his  drawer,  and  read 
them  through  to  the  very  last  word.  One  or  two 
of  the  articles  were  in  Mr.  Beecher’s  strongest  style, 
and  ciiticized  the  President  in  no  measured  terms. 
As  Mr.  Lincoln  finished  reading  them,  his  face 
fly  shed  up  with  indignation.  Dashing  the  package 
to  the  floor,  he  exclaimed,  “ Is  thy  servant  a dog, 
that  he  should  do  this  thing  ? ” 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


231 


The  excitement,  however,  soon  passed  off,  leaving 

no  trace  behind  of  ill-will  toward  Mr.  Beecher ; and 

the  impression  made  upon  his  mind  by  the  criticism 

was  lasting  and  excellent  in  its  effects. 

© 

Mr.  Lincoln’s  popularity  with  the  soldiers  and  the 
people  is  well  illustrated  in  the  following  incidents. 

Just  after  the  presidential  nominations  had  been 
made  in  1864,  a discussion  arose  in  a certain  regi- 
ment in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  as  to  the  merits 
of  the  two  candidates.  Various  opinions  had  been 
warmly  expressed,  when  at  length  a German  spoke. 
“I  goes,”  said  he,  “for  Fader  Abraham.  Fader 
Abraham,  he  likes  the  soldier-bov.  Ven  he  serves 
tree  years  he  gives  him  four  hundred  tollar,  and 
reenlists  him  von  veteran.  Now  Fader  Abraham, 
he  serve  four  years.  We  reenlist  him  four  years 
more,  and  make  von  veteran  of  Mm.” 

The  night  following  the  election,  a clergyman  of 
Middletown,  Conn.,  at  a torchlight  display,  exhib- 
ited a transparency  over  his  door,  with  a quotation 
from  Genesis  xxii.  15,  — “ The  angel  of  the  Lord 
called  unto  Abraham  out  of  heaven  a second  time.” 

A few  days  before  the  reinauguration  of  Mr. 
Lincoln,  my  picture  was  placed  temporarily  on  ex- 
hibition in  the  Rotunda  of  the  Capitol.  As  the 
workmen  were  raising  it  to  its  place,  over  the  north- 
ern door  leading  to  the  Senate  Chamber,  a group 
gathered  in  front  of  it,  among  whom  was  police- 
man R , of  the  Capitol  squad.  As  the  painting 

reached  its  position,  a wandering  sunbeam  crept  in 
from  the  top  of  the  great  dome  and  settled  full  upon 


2o2  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


the  head  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  leaving  all  the  rest  of  the 
picture  in  shadow.  The  effect  was  singular  and 
wonderful.  “ Look  ! ” exclaimed  the  enthusiastic 

R pointing  to  the  canvas ; “ that  is  as  it 

should  be.  God  bless  him ; may  the  sun  shine 
upon  his  head  forever.” 

LXYI. 

The  22d  of  February,  1865,  Lieutenant  Cushing 
of  the  Navy  reached  Washington,  from  the  fleet 
at  Wilmington,  with  the  news  of  the  capture  of 
Fort  Anderson.  This  gallant  officer,  only  twenty 
or  twenty-one  years  of  age,  had  greatly  distin- 
guished himself  by  planning  and  successfully  accom- 
plishing the  destruction  of  the  rebel  ram  Savannah , 
also  in  the  construction  of  the  “ bogus  ” monitor 
which  played  so  effectual  a part  in  the  capture  of 
Fort  Anderson.  He  was  introduced  to  the  Presi- 
dent by  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  and  was  re- 
ceived in  the  most  cordial  manner.  Sitting  down 
for  an  hour’s  talk,  Mr.  Lincoln,  who  was  in  high 
spirits  over  the  late  military  successes,  sparkled 
with  humor.  Temporarily  upon  the  wall  of  the 
room  was  a portrait  of  himself  recently  painted  for 
Secretary  Welles  by  a Connecticut  artist  friend. 
Turning  to  the  picture,  Mr.  Welles  remarked  that 
he  thought  it  a successful  likeness.  “ Yes,”  re- 
turned the  President,  hesitatingly  ; and  then  came 
a story  of  a western  friend  whose  wife  pronounced 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


233 


her  husband’s  portrait,  painted  secretly  for  a birth 
day  present,  “ horridly  like  ; ” “ and  that,”  said  he, 
“ seems  to  me  a just  criticism  of  this  ! ” The  liabil- 
ity to  “ mistakes,”  so  many  instances  of  which  had 
occurred  during  the  war,  both  on  land  and  sea,  was 
illustrated  by  reference  to  a charitably  disposed 
woman,  with  a very  indifferent  face,  who,  while 
visiting  the  rooms  of  the  Young  Men’s  Christian 
Association,  or  a similar  institution,  caught  sight  of 
her  own  reflection  in  a concealed  looking-glass, 
upon  which  she  retired  in  great  confusion,  saying 
she  would  have  nothing  more  to  do  with  an  institu- 
tion which  one  could  not  visit  without  meeting  dis- 
reputable characters. 

Lieutenant  Cushing  related  a circumstance  show 
ing  the  estimation  in  which  General  Sherman  was 
held  by  the  rebel  privates.  A deserter  of  this 
class  had  lately  fallen  into  his  hands.  “ Our  boys,” 
said  he,  speaking  of  the  Rebels,  “ say  General  Sher- 
man never  makes  but  one  speech.  When  ready  for 
a movement,  he  says:  ‘Now  boys,  let ’s  get  ready 
to  go  ; ’ and  they  get  ready,”  said  the  deserter, 
“ on  both  sides.” 

“ There  is  a good  deal  of  mother-wit  in  some 
of  those  fellows,”  rejoined  Mr.  Lincoln,  much 
amused.  “ That  puts  me  in  mind  of  a conversa- 
tion between  two  opposing  pickets,  just  after  Hooker 
fell  back  across  the  Rappahannock,  after  the  battle 
of  Chancellorville.  ‘Where’s  Old  Joe?’  called 
out  a ‘ butternut  ’ one  frosty  morning.  ‘ Gone  to 


234  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


Stonewall  Jackson’s  funeral,’  was  the  ready  reply. 
‘What  is  the. reason  you  “Johnnies”  never  have 
any  decent  clothes?’  hallooed  the  ‘Union’  boy 
back.  4 We-uns  don’t  put  on  our  best  to  kill  hogs 
in,’  wjft  the  retort.” 

I was  sitting  in  the  President’s  office  with  Mr 
G.  B.  Lincoln,  of  Brooklyn,  and  the  Hon.  John 
A.  Bingham,  of  Ohio,  — who  were  there  by  ap- 
pointment of  the  President,  — the  Sunday  even- 
ing before  the  reinauguration,  when  Mr.  Lincoln 
came  in  through  the  side  passage  which  had  lately 
been  constructed,  holding  in  his  hand  a roll  of  man- 
uscripts. 

“ Lots  of  wisdom  in  that  document,  I suspect,” 
said  he  ; “ it  is  what  will  be  called  my  4 second  in- 
augural,’ containing  about  six  hundred  words.  I 
will  put  it  away  here  in  this  drawer  until  I want 
it.” 

Seating  himself  by  the  open  grate,  he  commenced 
conversation  in  a familiar  and  cheerful  mood,  refer- 
ring to  his  early  life  in  Illinois.  Nothing,  he  said, 
had  ever  gratified  him  so  much  as  his  first  election 
to  the  legislature  of  that  State,  just  after  his  return 
from  the  Black-Hawk  war.  In  the  election  dis- 
trict a large  majority  were  Democrats,  and  he  was 
known  as  a 44  talking  Whig.”  Nevertheless,  he 
said,  in  a vote  of  two  hundred,  he  received  all  but 
three. 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  235 


LXVII. 

“ The  world,”  writes  one  who  knew  Mr.  Lincoln 
well,  “ will  never  hear  the  last  of  the  ‘ little  stories  ’ 
with  which  the  President  garnished  or  illustrated 
his  conversation  and  his  early  stump-speeches.  He 
once  said,  however,  that  as  near  as  he  could  reckon, 
about  one  sixth  only  of  those  credited  to  him  were 
old  acquaintances,  — all  the  rest  were  the  produc- 
tions of  other  and  better  story-tellers  than  himself. 
‘ I remember  a good  story  when  I hear  it,’  he  con- 
tinued ; ‘ but  I never  invented  anything  original  ; I 
am  only  a retail-dealer.’  ” * 

“ Mr.  Lincoln’s  jocoseness,”  wrote  another, 
“ though  sometimes  grim  and  sarcastic,  was  never 
abusive,  and  seldom  wounded.  Often  nicely  adapted 
to  the  place  and  the  occasion,  it  was  used,  as  the 
case  might  be,  either  as  a shield  or  a weapon.”  f 
Humor  and  shrewdness,  together  with  a certain 
nameless  individuality,  were  combined  in  his  stories 
in  a degree  that  will  secure  for  many  of  them  en- 
during interest.  These  characteristics,  marked  and 
prominent  as  they  were,  are  directly  traceable  to 
the  powerful  effect  produced  upon  the  plasfic  mind 
of  the  pioneer  boy,  by  the  early  study  of  JEsop’s 
Fables,  and  the  “ Pilgrim’s  Progress.”  His  light- 
est as  well  as  his  most  powerful  thought  almost  in- 
variably took  on  the  form  of  a figure  in  speech, 

* Noah  Brooks,  Harper's  Monthly , July,  1865. 
t Boston  Watchman  and  Reflector. 


236 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


which  drove  the  point  home , and  clinched  it,  as 
few  abstract  reasoners  are  able  to  do. 

The  character  of  this  volume,  necessarily  ram- 
bling and  fragmentary,  seems  to  present  a legiti- 
mate field  for  the  incorporation  and  preservation  of 
some  of  the  best  of  Mr.  Lincoln’s  “ little  stories  ” 
and  quaint  sayings,  other  than  those  which  came 
within  my  own  personal  observation.  Beside  these, 
there  has  accumulated  in  my  possession  a variety 
of  incidents,  many  of  which  have  never  been  pub- 
lished, throwing  light  not  only  upon  the  character 
of  the  man,  but  upon  many  events  and  circum- 
stances connected  with  the  war  and  the  adminis- 
tration. 

Believing  everything  of  this  kind  to  have  more 
than  a temporary  interest  and  value,  I devote  the 
following  section  to  their  embodiment. 


LXVHI. 

Mr.  Lincoln  made  his  first  political  speech  in 
1832,  at  the.  age  of  twenty-three,  when  he  was  a 
candidate  for  the  Illinois  Legislature.  His  oppo- 
nent had  wearied  the  audience  by  a long  speech, 
leaving  him  but  a short  time  in  which  to  present  his 
views.  He  condensed  all  he  had  to  say  into  a few 
w )rds,  as  follows  : — 

“Gentlemen,  Fellow  - citizens  : I presume  you 
know  who  I am.  I am  humble  Abraham  Lincoln. 
I have  been  solicited  by  many  friends  to  become  a 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


237 


candidate  for  the  legislature.  My  politics  can  be 
briefly  stated.  I am  in  favor  of  a national  bank. 
I am  in  favor  of  the  internal  improvement  system, 
and  a high  protective  tariff.  These  are  my  senti- 
ments and  political  principles.  If  elected,  I shall  be 
thankful.  If  not,  it  will  be  all  the  same.” 

The  contrast  between  Mr.  Lincoln  and  Senator 
Douglas  is  well  brought  out  in  the  following  ex- 
tract  from  a speech  by  Hon.  I.  N.  Arnold  of  Illi- 
nois, in  1863.  Speaking  of  their  great  contest  for 
the  senatorship,  Mr.  Arnold  said  : — 

“ Douglas  went  through  this  campaign  like  a con- 
quering hei’o.  He  had  his  special  train  of  cars,  his 
band  of  music,  his  body-guard  of  devoted  friends,  a 
cannon  carried  on  the  train,  the  firing  from  which 
announced  his  approach  to  the  place  of  meeting. 
Such  a canvass  involved,  necessarily,  very  large  ex- 
penditures ; and  it  has  been  said  that  Douglas  did 
not  expend  less  than  $50,000  in  this  canvass.  Some 
idea  of  the  plain,  simple,  frugal  habits  of  Mr.  Lin- 
coln may  be  gathered,  when  I tell  you  that  at  its 
close,  having  occupied  several  months,  'Mr.  Lincoln 
said,  with  the  idea,  apparently,,  that  he  had  been 
somewhat  extravagant:  ‘I  do  not  believe  I.  have 
spent  a cent  less  than  five  hundred  dollars  in  this 
canvass.’  ” 

Soon  after  Mr.  Lincoln  entered  upon  the  practice 
yf  his  profession  at  Springfield,  he  was  engaged  in 
a criminal  case  in  which  it  was  thought  there  was 
little  chance  of  success.  Throwing  all  his  powers 


238  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


into  it,  he  came  off  victorious,  and  promptly  received 
for  his  services  five  hundred  dollars.  A legal  friend 
calling  upon  him  the  next  morning  found  him  sit- 
ting before  a table,  upon  which  his  money  was 
spread  out,  counting  it  over  and  over.  “ Look  here, 
Judge,”  said  he  ; “ see  what  a heap  of  money  I ’ve 

got  from  the case.  Did  you  ever  see  anything 

like  it  ? Why,  I never  had  so  much  money  in  my 
life  before,  put  it  all  together  ! ” Then  crossing  his 
arms  upon  the  table,  his  manner  sobering  down,  he 
added,  “ I have  got  just  five  hundred  dollars : if  it 
was  only  seven  hundred  and  fifty,  I would  go  di- 
rectly and  purchase  a quarter  section  of  land,  and 
settle  it  upon  my  old  step-mother.”  His  friend  said 
that  if  the  deficiency  was  all  he  needed,  he  would 
loan  him  the  amount,  taking  his  note,  to  which  Mr. 
Lincoln  instantly  acceded. 

His  friend  then  said  : “ Lincoln,  I would  not  do 
just  what  you  have  indicated.  Your  step-mother 
is  getting  old,  and  will  not  probably  live  many 
years.  I would  settle  the  property  upon  her  for 
her  use  during  her  lifetime,  to  revert  to  you  upon 
her  death.”  , 

With  much  feeling,  Mr.  Lincoln  replied : “ I 
shall  do  no  such  thing.  It  is  a poor  return,  at  the 
best,  for  all  the  good  woman’s  devotion  and  fidelity 
to  me,  and  there  is  not  going  to  be  any  half-way 
business  about  it ; ” and  so  saying,  he  gathered  up 
his  money,  and  proceeded  forthwith  to  carry  Ins 
long-cherished  purpose  into  execution. 


■SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


239 


Among  the  numerous  delegations  which  thronged 
Washington  in  the  early  part  of  the  war  was  one 
from  New  York,  which  urged  very  strenuously  the 
sending  of  a fleet  to  the  southern  cities,  — Charles- 
ton, Mobile,  and  Savannah,  — with  the  object  of 
drawing  off  the  rebel  army  from  Washington. 
Mr.  Lincoln  said  the  project  reminded  him  of  the 
case  of  a girl  in  New  Salem,  who  was  greatly 
troubled  with  a “ singing  ” in  her  head.  Various 
remedies  were  suggested  by  the  neighbors,  but 
nothing  tried  afforded  any  relief.  At  last  a man 
came  along,  — “a  common-sense  sort  of  man,”  said 
he,  inclining  his  head  towards  the  gentleman  com- 
plimentarily,  — “ who  was  asked  to  prescribe  for  the 
difficulty.  After  due  inquiry  and  examination,  he 
said  the  cure  was  very  simple.  ‘ What  is  it  ? ’ was 
the  anxious  question.  ‘ Make  a plaster  of  psalm- 
tunes , and  apply  to  her  feet,  and  draw  the  “ sing- 
ing ” down,’  was  the  rejoinder.” 

On  another  occasion,  an  antislavery  delegation, 
also  from  New  York,  were  pressing  the  adoption  of 
the  emancipation  policy.  During  the  interview  the 
“chairman,”  the  Rev.  Dr.  C , made  a charac- 

teristic and  powerful  appeal,  largely  made  up  of 
quotations  from  the  Old  Testament  Scriptures.  Mr. 
Lincoln  received  the  “ bombardment  ” in  silence. 
As  the  speaker  concluded,  he  continued  for  a mo- 
ment in  thought,  and  then,  drawing  a long  breath, 
responded:  “Well,  gentlemen,  it  is  not  often  one 
is  favored  with  a delegation  direct  from  the  Al- 
mighty ! ” 


240  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE*. 

One  of  Mr.  Lincoln’s  Springfield  neighbors,  a 
clergyman,  visiting  Washington  earjy  in  the  ad- 
ministration, asked  the  President  what  was  to  be 
his  policy  on  the  slavery  question.  “Well,”  said 
he,  “ I will  answer  by  telling  you  a story.  You 
know  Father  B.,  the  old  Methodist  preacher  ? and 
you  know  Fox  River  and  its  freshets  ? Well,  once 
in  the  presence  of  Father  B.,  a young  Methodist 
was  worrying  about  Fox  River,  and  expressing 
fears  that  he  should  be  prevented  from  fulfilling 
some  of  his  appointments  by  a freshet  in  the  river. 
Father  B.  checked  him  in  his  gravest  manner. 
■Said  he  : ‘ Young  man,  I have  always  made  it  a 
rule  in  my  life  not  to  cross  Fox  River  till  I get 
to  it ! ’ And,”  added  Mr.  Lincoln,  “ I am  not 
going  to  worry  myself  over  the  slavery  question 
till  I get  to  it.” 

General  Garfield,  of  Ohio,  received  from  the 
President  an  account  of  the  capture  of  Norfolk, 
similar  to  that  recorded  on  a previous  page,  with 
the  following  preface  : — 

“ By  the  way,  Garfield,”  said  Mr.  Lincoln,  “ you 
never  heard,  did  you,  that  Chase,  Stanton,  and  I, 
had  a campaign  of  our  own?  We  went  down  to 
Fortress  Monroe  in  Chase’s  revenue  cutter,  and 
consulted  with  Admiral  Goldsborough  as  to  the 
feasibility  of  taking  Norfolk  by  landing  on  the  north 
shore  and  making  a march  of  eight  miles.  The 
Admiral  said,  very  positively,  there  was  no  landing 
on  that  shore,  and  we  should  have  to  double  the 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  241 


cape  and  approach  the  place  from  the  south  side, 
which  would  vbe  a long  and  difficult  journey.  I 
thereupon  asked  him  if  he  had  ever  tried  to  find  a 
landing,  and  he  replied  that  he  had  not.  ‘ Now,’ 
said  I,  ‘ Admiral,  that  reminds  me  of  a chap  out 
West  who  had  studied  law,  but  had  never  tried  a 
case.  Being  sued,  and  not  having  confidence  in 
his  ability  to  manage  his  own  case,  he  employed  a 
fellow-lawyer  to  manage  it  for  him.  He  had  only  a 
confused  idea  of  the  meaning  of  law  terms,  but  was 
anxious  to  make  a display  of  learning,  and  on  the 
trial  constantly  made  suggestions  to  his  lawyer,  who 
paid  no  attention  to  him.  At  last,  fearing  that  his 
lawyer  was  not  handling  the  opposing  counsel  very 
well,  he  lost  all  patience,  and  springing  to  his  feet 
cried  out,  “ Why  don’t  you  go  at  him  with  a capias , 
or  a surr e-butter,  or  something,  and  not  stand  there 
like  a confounded  old  nudum-pactuvi  ? ” ’ ” 

An  officer  of  the  Government  called  one  day  at 
the  White  House,  and  introduced  a clerical  friend. 
“ Mr.  President,”  said  he,  “ allow  me  to  present  to 

you  my  friend,  the  Rev.  Mr.  F.,  of . Mr.  F. 

has  expressed  a desire  to  see  you  and  have  some 
conversation  with  you,  and  I am  happy  to  be  the 
means  of  introducing  him.”  The  President  shook 
hands  with  Mr.  F.,  and  desiring  him  to  be  seated 
took  a seat  himself.  Then,  his  countenance  having 
assumed  an  air  of  patient  waiting,  he  said : “ I 
am  now  ready  to  hear  what  you  have  to  say.” 
“ Oh,  bless  you,  sir,”  said  Mr.  F.,  “ I have  nothing 
16 


242  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

special  to . say  ; I merely  called  to  pay  my  respects 
to  you,  and,  as  one  of  the  million,  to  assure  you  of 
my  hearty  sympathy  and  support.”  “ My  dear 
sir,”  said  the  President,  rising  promptly,  his  face 
showing  instant  l’elief,  and  with  both  hands  gi’asp- 
ing  that  of  his  visitor,  “ I am  vei’y  glad  to  see 
you,  indeed.  I thought  you  had  come  to  preach  to 
me  ! ” 

On  the  way  to  the  cemetery  dedication  at  Get- 
tysbui'g,  Mr.  Lincoln  said  to  his  friend,  McVeagh, 
of  Pennsylvania,  speaking  of  Governor  Gamble  and 
the  administration  troubles  in  Missouri  : — “I  do 
not  undei'stand  the  spirit  of  those  men  who,  in  such 
a time  as  this,  because  they  cannot  have  a whole 
loaf  will  take  no  bread.  For  my  part,  I am  willing 
to  receive  any  man,  or  class  of  men,  who  will  help 
us  even  a little .” 

On  the  same  occasion,  when  the  Pi’esidential 
pai’ty  reached  Hanover  Junction  they  found  a lai’ge 
concoui’se  of  people  assembled  to  greet  them.  Mr. 
Lincoln  and  Secretary  Sewai'd,  an  hour  previous,  * 
had  gone  into  the  sleeping-car  attached  to  the  ti’ain, 
for  some  l’est.  In  response  to  the  clamor  of  the 
crowd,  a fi’iend  intruded  upon  them,  saying  to  the 
President  that  he  was  “ expected  to  make  a speech.” 

“ No  ! ” he  rejoined,  very  emphatically  ; “ I had 
enough  of  that  sort  of  thing  all  the  way  from 
Springfield  to  Washington.  Sewai’d,”  said  he, 
turning  over  in  his  berth,  “ you  go  out  and  repeat 
some  of  your  '•poetry  ’ to  the  people  ! ” 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


243 


Upon  the  betrothal  of  the  Prince  of  Wales  to 
the  Princess  Alexandra,  Queen  Victoria  sent  a let- 
ter to  each  of  the  European  sovereigns,  and  alsc 
to  President  Lincoln,  announcing  the  fact.  Lord 
Lyons,  her  ambassador  at  Washington,  — a “bach- 
elor,” by  the  wav,  — requested  an  audience  of  Mr. 
Lincoln,  that  he  might  present  this  important  doc- 
ument in  person.  At  the  time  appointed  he  was 
received  at  the  White  House,  in  company  with  Mr. 
Seward. 

“ May  it  please  your  Excellency,”  said  Lord 
Lyons,  “ I hold  in  my  hand  an  autograph  letter 
from  my  royal  mistress,  Queen  Victoria,  which  I 
have  been  commanded  to  present  to  your  Excel- 
lency. In  it  she  informs  your  Excellency  that  her 
son,  his  Royal  Highness  the  Prince  of  Wales,  is 
about  to  contract  a matrimonial  alliance  with  her 
Royal  'Highness  the  Princess  Alexandra  of  Den- 
mark.” 

After  continuing  in  this  strain  for  a few  minutes, 
Lord  Lyons  tendered  the  letter  to  the  President 
and  awaited  his  reply.  It  was  short,  simple,  and 
expressive,  and  consisted  simply  of  the  words  : — 

“ Lord  Lyons,  go  thou  and  do  likewise.” 

It  is  doubtful  if  an  English  ambassador  was  ever 
addressed  in  this  manner  before,  and  it  would  be 
interesting  to  learn  what  success  he  met  with  in 
putting  the  reply  in  diplomatic  language  when  he 
reported  it  to  her  Majesty. 

The  antagonism  between  the  northern  and  south- 


244  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


era  sections  of  the  Democratic  party,  which  cul- 
minated in  the  nomination  of  two  separate  tickets 
in  1860,  was  a subject  to  draw  out  one  of  Mr.  Lin- 
coln’s hardest  hits. 

“ I once  knew,”  said  he,  “ a sound  churchman 
by  the  name  of  Brown,  who  was  a member  of  a 
very  sober  and  pious  committee  having  in  charge 
the  erection  of  a bridge  over  a dangerous  and  rapid 
river.  Several  architects  failed,  and  at  last  Brown 
said  he  had  a friend  named  Jones,  who  had  built 
several  bridges  and  undoubtedly  could  build  that 
one.  So  Mr.  Jones  was  called  in.  ‘ Can  you  build 
this  bridge?’  inquired  the  committee.  ‘ Yes,’  re- 
plied Jones,  ‘ or  any  other.  I could  build  a bridge 
to  the  infernal  regions,  if  necessary  ! ’ The  com- 
mittee were  shocked,  and  Brown  felt  called  upon 
to  defend  his  friend.  ‘ I know  Jones  so  well,’  said 
he,  ‘ and  he  is  so  honest  a man  and  so  good  an 
architect,  that  if  he  states  soberly  and  positively 

that  he  can  build  a bridge  to  — to , why,  I 

believe  it ; but  I feel  bound  to  say  that  I have  my 
doubts  about  the  abutment  on  the  infernal  side.’ 
So,”  said  Mr.  Lincoln,  “ when  politicians  told  me 
that  the  northern  and  southern  wings  of  the  Dem- 
* ocracy  could  be  harmonized,  why,  I believed  them, 
of  course  ; but  I always  had  my  doubts  about  the 
‘ abutment  ’ on  the  other  side.”  * 

About  the  time  Mr.  Lincoln  began  to  be  known 
as  a successful  lawyer,  he  was  waited  upon  by  a 

* Abbott’s  History  of  the.  Civil  War. 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE;  245 


lady,  who  held  a real-estate  claim  which  she  desired 
to  have  him  prosecute,  — putting  into  his  hands, 
with  the  necessary  papers,  a check  for  two  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars,  as  a retaining 'fee.  Mr.  Lincoln 
said  he  would  look  the  case  over,  and  asked  her  to 
call  again  the  next  day.  Upon  presenting  herself, 
Mr.  Lincoln  told  her  that  he  had  gone  through  the 
papers  very  carefully,  and  he  must  tell  her  frankly 
that  there  was  not  a “ peg  ” to  hang  her  claim  upon, 
and  he  could  not  conscientiously  advise  her  to  bring 
an  action.  The  lady  was  satisfied,  and,  thanking 
him,  rose  to  go.  “ Wait,”  said  Mr.  Lincoln,  fum- 
bling in  his  vest  pocket  ; “ here  is  the  check  you 
left  with  me.”  “ But,  Mr.  Lincoln,”  returned  the 
lady,  “I  think  you  have  earned  that.”  “No,  no,” 
he  responded,  handing  it  back  to  her;  “that  would 
not  be  right.  I can’t  take  pay  for  doing  my  duty.” 

Mr.  Lincoln  liked  to  feel  himself  the  attorney  of 
the  people,  not  their  ruler.  Speaking  once  of  the 
probability  of  his  renomination,  he  said  : “ If  the 
people  think  I have  managed  their  ‘ case  ’ for  them 
well  enough  to  trust  me  to  carry  it  up  to  the  next 
term,  I am  sure  I shall  be  glad  to  take  it.” 

“ Judge  Baldwin  of  California,  being  in  Wash- 
ington, called  one  day  on  Genei’al  Halleck,  and, 
presuming  upon  a familiar  acquaintance  in  Califor- 
nia a few  years  before,  solicited  a pass  outside  of 
our  lines  to  see  a brother  in  Virginia,  not  thinking 
that  he  would  meet  with  a refusal,  as  both  his 
brother  and  himself  were  good  Union  men.  “We 


246  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

have  been  deceived  too  often,”  said  General  Hal- 
leck,  “ and  I regret  I can’t  grant  it.”  Judge  B. 
then  went  to  Stanton,  and  was  very  briefly  disposed 
of,  with  the  same  result.  Finally,  he  obtained  an 
interview  with  Mr.  Lincoln,  and  stated  his  case. 
“ Have  you  applied  to  General  Halleck  ? ” inquired 
the  President.  “ Yes,  and  met  with  a flat  refusal,” 
said  Judge  B.  “ Then  you  must  see  Stanton,” 
continued  the  President.  “ I have,  and  with  the 
same  result,”  was  the  reply.  “ Well,  then,”  said 
Mr.  Lincoln,  with  a smile,  “ I can  do  nothing ; for 
you  must  know  that  I have  very  little  influence  with 
this  Administration .” 

Mr.  Colfax  told  me  of  a gentleman’s  going  to 
the  President,  one  day,  with  a bitter  denunciation 
of  Secretary  Stanton  and  his  management  of  the 
War  Department.  “ Go  home,  my  friend,”  inter- 
rupted Mr.  Lincoln,  “ and  read  attentively  the  tenth 
verse  of  the  thirtieth  chapter  of  Proverbs ! ” * 

A lieutenant,  whom  debts  compelled  to  leave  his 
father-land  and  service,  succeeded  in  being  admitted 
to  President  Lincoln,  and,  by  reason  of  his  com- 
mendable and  winning  deportment  and  intelligent 
appearance,  was  promised  a lieutenant’s  commission 
in  a cavalry  regiment.  He  was  so  enraptured  with 
his  success,  that  he  deemed  it  a duty  to  inform  the 
President  that  he  belonged  to  one  of  the  oldest 
noble  houses  in  Germany.  “ Oh,  never  mind  that,’ 

' * “ Accuse  not  a servant  to  his  master,  lest  he  curse  thee,  and  thou 
De  found  guilty.” 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  247 

Baid  Mr.  Lincoln ; “ you  will  not  find  that  to  be  an 
obstacle  to  your  advancement.’1 

Just  previous  to  the  fall  of  Vicksburg,  a self- 
constituted  committee,  solicitous  for  the  morale  of 
our  armies,  took  it  upon  themselves  to  visit  the 
President  and  urge  the  removal  of  General  Grant. 
In  some  surprise  Mr.  Lincoln  inquired,  “ For  what 
reason  ? ” “ Why,”  replied  the  spokesman,  “ he 

drinks  too  much  whiskey.”  “ Ah  ! ” rejoined  Mr. 
Lincoln,  dropping  his  lower  lip.  “ By  the  way, 
gentlemen,  can  either  of  you  tell  me  where  Gen- 
eral Grant  procures  his  whiskey  ? because,  if  I 
can  find  out,  I will  send  every  general  in  the  field 
a barrel  of  it ! ” 

When  the  telegram  from  Cumberland  Gap 
reached  Mr.  Lincoln  that  “ firing  was  heard  in 
the  direction  of  Knoxville,”  he  remarked  that  he 
was  “ glad  of  it.”  Some  person  present,  who  had 
the  perils  of  Burnside’s  position  uppermost  in  his 
mind,  could  not  see  why  Mr.  Lincoln  should  be 
glad  of  it,  and  so  expressed  himself.  “ Why,  you 
see,”  responded  the  President,  “ it  reminds  me  of 
Mistress  Sallie  Ward,  a neighbor  of  mine,  who  had 
a very  large  family.  Occasionally  one  of  her  nu- 
merous progeny  would  be  heard  crying  in  some 
out-of-the-way  place,  upon  which  Mrs.  Ward  would 
exclaim,  ‘ There ’s  one  of  my  children  that  is  n’t 
dead  yet.’  ” 

A gentleman  once  complimented  the  President 
m having  no  vices,  neither  drinking  nor  smoking. 


248  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


“ That  is  a doubtful  compliment,”  answered  the 
President ; “ I recollect  once  being  outside  a stage- 
coach, in  Illinois,  and  a man  sitting  by  me  offered 
me  a cigar.  I told  him  I had  no  vices.  He  said 
nothing,  but  smoked  for  some  time,  and  then  growled 
out : ‘ It ’s  my  experience  that  folks  who  have  no 
vices  have  generally  very  few  virtues.’  ” 

Mr.  Lincoln’s  aversion  to  calls  for  a speech  that 
must  be  merely  “off-hand,”  was  decided;  yet,  un- 
willing altogether  to  disappoint  the  crowds,  who 
perhaps  too  often  made  such  demands  of  him,  he 
seldom  excused  himself  altogether  from  speaking. 
One  evening  a friend  was  conversing  with  him  in 
his  room,  when  his  quick  ear  caught  the  sound  of 
approaching  music,  and  his  countenance  suddenly 
changed,  as  he  inquired  its  meaning,  though  readily 
divining  it.  A serenade  was  presently  announced 
by  an  usher,  and  Mr.  Lincoln,  as  he  arose  to  go 
forward  to  the  front  window,  lingered  a moment, 
and  said  : — 

“ These  ‘ serenade  ’ speeches  bother  me  a good 
deal,  they  are  so  hard  to  make.  I feel  very  much 
like  the  steam  doctor,  who  said  he  could  get  along 
very  well  in  his  practice  with  almost  every  case, 
but  he  was  always  a little  puzzled  when  it  came  to 
mending  a broken  leg.” 

It  has  been  repeatedly  said  that  Mr.  Lincoln 
lacked  imagination  and  poetic  sensibility.  Surely, 
the  soul  which  could  conceive  the  last  inaugural,  or 
indite  the  closing  sentence  of  the  first,  was  not 
wanting  in  these  elements : — 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  249 

“ The  mystic  chords  of  memory,  stretching  from 
every  battle-field  and  patriot  grave  to  every  living 
heart  and  hearthstone  all  over  this  broad  land,  will 
yet  swell  the  chorus  of  the  Union,  when  again 
touched,  as  surely  they  will  be,  by  the  better  angels 
of  our  nature.” 

Neither  was  the  mind  deficient  in  enthusiasm, 
which  could  prophesy : — 

“ There  are  already  those  among  us,  who,  if  the 
Union  be  preserved,  will  live  to  see  it  contain  two 
hundred  and  fifty  millions.  The  struggle  of  to-day 
is  not  altogether  for  to-day  ; it  is  for  a vast  future 
also.” 

“ The  President,”  said  a leading  member  of  the 
Cabinet,  on  one  occasion,  “is  his  own  War-Minis- 
ter. He  directs  personally  the  movements  of  the 
armies,  and  is  fond  of  strategy ; but  pays  much  less 
attention  to  official  details  than  is  generally  sup- 
posed.” 

Mr.  Lincoln’s  wit  was  never  malicious  nor  rudely 
personal.  Once  when  Mr.  Douglas  had  attempted 
to  parry  an  argument  by  impeaching  the  veracity 
of  a senator  whom  Mr.  Lincoln  had  quoted,  he 
answered  that  the  question  -was  not  one  of  veracity, 
but  simply  one  of  argument.  “ By  a course  of 
reasoning,  Euclid  proves  that  all  the  angles  in  a 
triangle  are  equal  to  two  right  angles.  Now,  if 
you  undertake  to  disprove  that  proposition,  would 
you  prove  it  to  be  false  by  calling  Euclid  a liar  ? ” * 
* Speech  at  Charleston,  September  18th,  1858. 


2.50 


SIX  MQNTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


A couple  of  well-known  New  York  gentlemen 
called  upon  the  President  one  day  to  solicit  a par- 
don for  a man  who,  while  acting  as  mate  of  a sailing 
vessel,  had  struck  one  of  his  men  a blow  which 
resulted  in  his  death.  Convicted  and  sentenced  for 
manslaughter,  a powerful  appeal  was  made  in  his 
behalf,  as  he  had  previously  borne  an  excellent 
character.  Giving  the  facts  a hearing,  Mr.  Lincoln 
responded  : — 

“ Well,  gentlemen,  leave  your  papers,  and  I will 
have  the  Attorney-General,  Judge  Bates,  look  them 
over,  and  we  will  see  what  can  be  done.  Being 
both  of  us  ‘ pigeon-hearted  ’ fellows,  the  chances  are 
that,  if  there  is  any  ground  whatever  for  interfer- 
ence, the  scoundrel  will  get  off'!  ” 

Attorney-General  Bates  was  onCe  remonstrating 
with  the  President  against  the  appointment  to  a ju- 
dicial position  of  considerable  importance  of  a west- 
ern man,  who,  though  once  on  the  “ bench,”  was 
of  indifferent  reputation  as  a lawyer. 

“ Well  now,  Judge,”  returned  Mr.  Lincoln,  “I 

think  you  are  rather  too  hard  on . Besides 

that,  I must  tell  you,  he  did  me  a good  turn  long 
ago.  When  I took  to  the  law,  I was  going  to  court 
one  morning,  with  some  ten  or  twelve  miles  of 

bad  road  before  me,  when overtook  me  in  his 

wagon.  ‘ Hallo,  Lincoln  ! ’ said  he  ; ‘ going  to  the 
court-house  ? come  in  and  I will  give  you  a seat.’ 

Well,  I got  in,  and went  on  reading  his  papers. 

Presently  the  wagon  struck  a stump  on  one  side  of 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  251 


the  road  ; then  it  hopped  oft’  to  the  other.  I looked 
out  and  saw  the  driver  was  jerking  from  side  to  side 
in  his  seat:  so  said  I,  4 Judge,  I think  your  coach- 
man has  been  taking  a drop  too  much  this  morning.’ 
1 Well,  I declare,  Lincoln,’  said  he,  ‘ I should  not 
much  wonder  if  you  are  right,  for  he  has  nearly 
upset  me  half-a-dozen  times  since  starting.’  So, 
putting  his  head  out  of  the  window,  he  shouted, 
‘ Why,  you  infernal  scoundrel,  you  are  drunk ! ’ 
Upon  which,  pulling  up  his  horses  and  turning 
round  with  great  gravity,  the  coachman  said  : 4 Be- 
dad ! but  that ’s  the  first  rightful  decision  your 
honor  has  given  for  the  last  twelve  months.’  ” 

Some  gentlemen  fresh  from  a western  tour,  dur- 
ing a call  at  the  White  House,  referred  in  the 
course  of  conversation  to  a body  of  water  in  Ne- 
braska which  bore  an  Indian  name  signifying 
44  weeping  water.”  Mr.  Lincoln  instantly  re- 
sponded : “ As  4 laughing  water,’  according  to 

Longfellow,  is  4 Minnehaha,’  this  evidently  should 
be  4 Minneboohoo.’  ” 

A farmer  from  one  of  the  border  counties  went  to 
the  President  on  a certain  occasion  with  the  com- 
plaint that  the  Union  soldiers  in  passing  his  farm 
had  helped  themselves  not  only  to  hay  but  to  his 
horse ; and  he  hoped  the  proper  officer  would  be 
required  to  consider  his  claim  immediately. 

44  Why,  my  good  sir,”  replied  Mr.  Lincoln,  44  If 
I should  attempt  to  consider  every  such  individual 
case,  I should  find  work  enough  for  twenty  Presi- 


252 


SIX  MONT  as  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


dents ! In  my  early  days,  I knew  one  Jack  Chase, 
who  was  a lumberman  on  the  Illinois,  and,  when 
steady  and  sober,  the  best  raftsman  on  the  river.  It 
was  quite  a trick  twenty-five  years  ago  to  take  the 
logs  over  the  rapids,  but  he  was  skilful  with  a raft, 
and  always  kept  her  straight  in  the  channel.  Finally 
a steamer  was  put  on,  and  Jack  — he ’s  dead  now, 
poor  fellow ! — was  made  captain  of  her.  . He  al- 
ways used  to  take  the  wheel  going  through  the 
rapids.  One  day,  when  the  boat  was  plunging  and 
wallowing  along  the  boiling  current,  and  Jack’s 
utmost  vigilance  was  being  exercised  to  keep  her  in 
the  narrow  channel,  a boy  pulled  his  coat-tail  and 
hailed  him  with  : ‘ Say,  Mister  Captain  ! I wish  you 
would  just  stop  your  boat  a minute  — I ’ve  lost  my 
apple  overboard  ! ’ ” 

At  a time  of  financial  difficulty,  a committee  of 
New  York  bankers  waited  upon  the  Secretary  of 
the  Treasury  and  volunteered  a loan  to  the  govern- 
ment, which  was  gratefully  accepted.  Mr.  Chase 
subsequently  accompanied  the  gentlemen  to  the 
White  House  and  introduced  them  to  the  Presi- 
dent, saying  they  had  called  to  have  a talk  with  him 
about  money.  “ Money,”  replied  Mr.  Lincoln  ; “ I 
don’t  know,  anything  about  ‘ money.'  I never  had 
enough  of  my  own  to  fret  me,  and  I have  no  opin- 
ion about  it  any  way.” 

“ It  is  considered  rather  necessary  to  the  carry- 
ing on  of  a war,  however,”  returned  the  Secretary. 

“ Well,  I don’t  know  about  that,”  rejoined  Mr. 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  253 

Lincoln,  turning  crosswise  in  his  chair,  swinging 
both  legs  backward  and  forward.  “We  don’t 
read  that  ‘ Hannibal  ’ had  any  ‘ money  ’ to  prosecute 
his  wars  with.” 

The  President  was  one  day  speaking  of  a visit 
he  had  just  received  from  another  delegation  of 
bankers,  from  New  York  and  Boston,  who  had  been 
urging  the  removal  of  General  Cameron  from  the 
Cabinet. 

“ They  talked  very  glibly,”  said  he,  “ especially 

a man  named  G from  Boston ; and  I finally 

told  them  as  much  — adding,  nevertheless,  that  I 
was  not  convinced.  ‘ Now,’  said  I,  ‘ gentlemen,  if 
you  want  General  Cameron  removed,  you  have 
only  to  bring  me  one  proved  case  of  dishonesty,  and 
I promise  you  his  “ head  ” ; but  I assure  you  I am 
not  going  to  act  on  what  seems  to  me  the  most 
unfounded  gossip.’  ” 

The  Hon.  Mr.  Hubbard  of  Connecticut  once 
called  upon  the  President  in  reference  to  a newly 
invented  gun,  concerning  which  a committee  had 
been  appointed  to  make  a report. 

The  “ report  ” was  sent  for,  and  when  it  came  in 
was  found  to  be  of  the  most  voluminous  description. 
Mr.  Lincoln  glanced  at  it,  and  said  : “ I should 
want  a new  lease  of  life  to  read  this  through ! ” 
Throwing  it  down  upon  the  table,  he  added : “ Why 
can’t  a committee  of  thi.s  kind  occasionally  ex- 
hibit a grain  of  common  sense  ? If  I send  a man 
to  buy  a horse  for  me,  I expect  him  to  tell  me 


254  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

his  ‘ points' — not  how  many  hairs  there  are  in  his 
tail.” 

Late  one  evening,  the  President  brought  in  to  see 
my  picture  his  friend  and  biographer,  the  Hon.  J. 
H.  Barrett,  and  a Mr.  M — — , of  Cincinnati.  An 
allusion  to  a question  of  law  in  the  course  of  con- 
versation suggesting  the  subject,  Mr.  Lincoln  said : 
“ The  strongest  example  of  ‘ rigid  government  ’ and 
‘ close  construction  ’ I ever  knew,  was  that  of  Judse 

. It  was  once  said  of  him  that  he  would  hang 

a man  for  blowing  his  nose  in  the  street,  but  that  he 
would  quash  the  indictment  if  it  failed  to  specify 
which  hand  he  blew  it  with  ! ” 

A new  levy  of  troops  required,  on  a certain  occa- 
sion, the  appointment  of  a large  additional  number 
of  brigadier  and  major-generals.  Among  the  im- 
mense number  of  applications,  Mr.  Lincoln  came 
upon  one  wherein  the  claims  of  a certain  worthy 
(not  in  the  service  at  all)  for  a generalship  were 
glowingly  set  forth.  But  the  applicant  did  n't 
specify  whether  he  wanted  to  be  brigadier  or  major- 
general.  The  President  observed  this  difficulty,  and 
solved  it  by  a lucid  indorsement.  The  clerk,  on 
receiving  the  paper  again,  found  written  across  its 
back  : “ Major-General,  I reckon.  A.  Lincoln.” 

A juvenile  “ Brigadier”  from  New  York,  with  a 
small  detachment  of  cavalry,  having  imprudently 
gone  within  the  Rebel  .lines  near  Fairfax  Court 
House,  was  captured  by  “ guerillas.”  Upon  the 
fact  being  reported  to  Mr.  Lincoln,  he  said  that  he 
was  very  sorry  to  lose  the  horses  ! 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


25n 


“ What  do  you  mean  ? ” inquired  his  informant. 

“ Why,”  rejoined  the  President,  “ I can  make 
a better  ‘ brigadier  ’ any  day  ; but  those  liorses  cost 
the  government  a hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  a 
head  ! ” 

Mr.  Lincoln  sometimes  had  a very  effective  way 
of  dealing  with  men  who  troubled  him  with  ques- 
tions. A visitor  once  asked  him  how  many  men 
the  Rebels  had  in  the  field.  The  President  replied, 
very  seriously,  “ Twelve  hundred  thousand,  accord- 
ing to  the  best  authority.”  The  interrogator  blanched 
in  the  face,  and  ejaculated,.  “ Good  Heavens ! ” 
“ Yes  sir,  twelve  hundred  thousand  — no  doubt  of 
it.  You  see,  all  of  our  generals,  when  they  get 
whipped,  say  the  enemy  outnumbers  them  from 
three  or  five  to  one,  and  I must  believe  them.  We 
have  four  hundred  thousand  men  in  the  field,  and 
three  times  four  make  twelve.  Don't  you  see  it?  ” 

Some  gentlemen  were  discussing  in  Mr.  Lincoln’s 
presence  on  a certain  occasion  General  McClellan’s 
military  capacity.  “ It  is  doubtless  true  that  he  is 
a good  1 engineer,’  said  the  President  ; but  he  seems 
to  have  a special  talent  for  developing  a ‘ stationary  ’ 
engine.” 

When  Mr.  Lincoln  handed  to  his  friend  Gilbert 
his  appointment  as  assessor  in  the  Wall  Street  dis- 
trict, New  York,  he  said  : “ Gilbert,  from  what  I 
can  learn,  I judge  that  you  are  going  upon  good 
‘ missionary  ’ ground.  Preach  God  and  Liberty  to 
the  ‘ bulls  ’ and  ‘ bears,’  and  get  all  the  money  you 
car  for  the  government  I ” 


256 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


A gentleman  calling  at  the  White  House  one 
evening  carried  a cane,  which,  in  the  course  of  con- 
versation, attracted  the  President’s  attention.  Tak- 
ing it  in  his  hand,  he  said  : “ I always  used  a cane 
when  I was  a boy.  It  was  a freak  of  mine.  My 
favorite  one  was  a knotted  beech  stick,  and  I carved 
the  head  myself.  There  ’s  a mighty  amount  of 
character  in  sticks.  Don’t  you  think  so  ? You 
have  seen  these  fishing-poles  that  fit  into  a cane  ? 
Well  that  was  an  old  idea  of  mine.  Dogwood  clubs 
were  favorite  ones  with  the  boys.  I suppose  they 
use  them,  yet.  Hickory  is  too  heavy,  unless  you  get 
it  from  a young  sapling.  Have  you  ever  noticed 
how  a stick  in,  one’s  hand  will  change  his  appear- 
ance ? Old  women  and  witches  would  n’t  look  so 
without  sticks.  Meg  Merrilies  understands  that.” 

One  of  Mr.  Lincoln’s  “illustrations”  in  my  hear- 
ing, on  one  occasion,  was  of  a man  who,  in  driving 
the  hoops  of  a hogshead  to  “ head  ” it  up,  was 
much  annoyed  by  the  constant  falling  in  of  the  top. 
At  length  the  bright  idea  struck  him  of  putting  his 
little  boy  inside  to  “ hold  it  up.”  This  he  did ; it 
never  occurring  to  nim  till  the  job  was  done,  how 
he  was  to  get  his  child  out.  “ This,”  said  he,  “ is 
a fair  sample  of  the  way  some  people  always  do 
business.” 

In  a time  of  despondency,  some  visitors  were  tell- 
ing the  President  of  the  “ breakers  ” so  often  seen 
ahead  — “ this  time  surely  coming.”  “ That,” 
said  he,  “ suggests  the  story  of  the  school-boy, 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  257 


who  never  could  pronounce  the  names  ‘ Sha- 
drach,’  ‘ Meshach,’  and  * Abednego.’  He  had  been 
repeatedly  whipped  for  it  without  effect.  Some- 
time afterwards  he  saw  the  names  in  the  regular 
lesson  for  the  day.  Putting  his  finger  upon  the 
place,  he  turned  to  his  next  neighbor,  an  older  boy, 
and  whispered,  ‘ Here  come  those  “ tormented  He- 
brews ” again.’  ” 

Referring  to  the  divisions  upon  the  Missouri 
Compromise,  Mr.  Lincoln  once  said  : 4i  It  used  to 
amuse  me  to  hear  the  slave-holders  talk  about 
wanting  more  territory,  because  they  had  not 
room  enough  for  their  slaves  ; and  yet  they  com- 
plained of  not  having  the  slave-trade,  because  they 
wanted  more  slaves  for  their  room.” 

Speaking  on  a certain  occasion,  of  a prominent 
man  who  had  the  year  before  been  violent  in  his 
manifestations  of  hostility  to  the  Administration, 
but  was  then  ostensibly  favoring  the  same  policy 
previously  denounced,  Mr.  Lincoln  expressed  his 
entire  readiness  to  treat  the  past  as  if  it  had  not 
been,  saying,  “ I choose  always  to  make  my  ‘ stat- 
ute of  limitations  ’ a short  one.” 

At  the  White  House  one  day  some  gentlemen 
were  present  from  the  West,  excited  and  troubled 
about  the  commissions  or  omissions  of  the  Admin- 
istration. The  President  heard  them  patiently, 
and  then  replied : “ Gentlemen,  suppose  all  the 
property  you  were  worth  was  in  gold,  and  you  had 
put  it  in  the  hands  of  Blondin  to  carry  across  the 
IT 


258  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


Niagara  River  on  a rope,  would  you  shake  the 
cable,  or  keep  shouting  out  to  him,  ‘ Blondin, 
stand  up  a little  straighter  — Blondin,  stoop  a little 
moi’e  — go  a little  faster  — lean  a little  more  to 
the  north  — lean  a little  more  to  the  south.’  No, 
you  would  hold  your  breath  as  well  as  your  tongue, 
and  keep  your  hands  off  until  he  was  safe  over. 
The  Government  are  carrying  an  immense  weight. 
Untold  treasures  are  in  their  hands.  They  are 
doing  the  very  best  they  can.  Don’t  badger  them. 
Keep  silence,  and  we  ’ll  get  you  safe  across.” 

The  President  was  once  speaking  of  an  attack 
made  on  him  by  the  Committee  on  the  Conduct  of 
the  War,  for  a certain  alleged  blunder,  or  some 
thing  worse,  in  the  Southwest  — the  matter  in- 
volved being  one  which  had  fallen  directly  under 
the  observation  of  the  officer  to  whom  he  was 
talking,  who  possessed  official ’evidence  completely 
upsetting  all  the  conclusions  of  the  Committee. 

“ Might  it  not  be  well  for  me,”  queried  the 
officer,  “ to  set  this  matter  right  in  a letter  to  some 
paper,  stating  the  facts  as  they  actually  trans- 
pired ? ” 

“ Oh,  no,”  replied  the  President,  “ at  least,  not 
now.  If  I were  to  try  to  read,  much  less  answer, 
all  the  attacks  made  on  me,  this  shop  might  as  well 
be  closed  for  any  other  business.  I do  the  very 
best  I know  how  — the  very  best  I can  ; and  I 
mean  to  keep  doing  so  until  the  end.  If  the  end 
brings  me  out  all  right,  what  is  said  against  me 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  259 

won’t  amount  to  anything.  If  the  end  brings  me 
out  wrong,  ten  angels  swearing  I was  right  would 
make  no  difference.” 

“ I shall  ever  cherish  among  the  brightest  mem- 
ories of  my  life,”  says  the  Rev.  J.  P.  Thompson, 
of  New  York,  “ the  recollection  of  an  hour  in  Mr. 
Lincoln’s  working-room  in  September,  ’64,  which 

was  one  broad  sheet  of  sunshine I 

spoke  of  the  rapid  rise  of  Union  feeling  since  the 
promulgation  of  the  Chicago  Platform,  and  the 
victory  at  Atlanta  ; and  the  question  was  started, 
which  had  contributed  the  most  to  the  reviving  of 
Union  sentiment  — the  victory  or  the  platform. 
‘ I guess,’  said  the  President,  ‘ it  was  the  victory ; 
at  any  rate,  I ’d  rather  have  that  repeated.’  ” 

Being  informed  of  the  death  of  John  Morgan, 
he  said:  “^Yell,  I wouldn’t  crow  over  anybody’s 
death ; but  I can  take  this  as  resignedly  as  any  dis- 
pensation of  Providence.” 

The  celebrated  case  of  Franklin  W.  Smith  and 
brother,  was  one  of  those  which  most  largely 
helped  to  bring  military  tribunals  into  public  con- 
tempt. Those  two  gentlemen  were  arrested  and 
kept  in  confinement,  their  papers  seized,  their 
business  destroyed,  their  reputation  damaged,  and 
a naval  court-martial,  “ organized  to  convict,” 
pursued  them  unrelentingly  till  a wiser  and  juster 
hand  arrested  the  malice  of  their  persecutors,  lr 
is  known  that  President  Lincoln,  after  full  inves- 
tigation of  the  case,  annulled  the  whole  proceed- 


260  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


ings,  but  it  is  remarkable  that  the  actual  record  of 
his  decision  could  never  be  obtained  from  the  Navy 
Department.  An  exact  copy  being  withheld,  the 
following  was  presented  to  the  Boston  Board  of 
Trade  as  being  very  nearly  the  words  of  the  late 
President : — 

“ Whereas,  Franklin  W.  Smith  had  transactions  with 
the  Navy  Department  to  the  amount  of  one  million  and 
a quarter  of  a million  of  dollars  ; and  whereas,  he  had 
the  chance  to  steal  a quarter  of  a million,  and  was  only 
charged  with  stealing  twenty-two  hundred  dollars  — 
and  the  question  now  is  about  his  stealing  a hundred  — 
I don’t  believe  he  stole  anything  at  all.  Therefore,  the 
record  and  findings  are  disapproved  — declared  null  and 
void,  and  the  defendants  are  fully  discharged.” 

“ It  would  be  difficult,”  says  the  New  York 
“ Tribune,”  “ to  sum  up  the  rights  and  wrongs  of 
the  business  more  briefly  than  that,  or  to  find  a 
paragraph  more  characteristically  and  unmistakably 
Mr.  Lincoln’s.” 

A gentleman  was  pressing  very  strenuously  the 
promotion  of  an  officer  to  a “Brigadiership.”  “ But 
we  have  already  more  generals  than  we  know 
what  to  do  with,”  replied  the  President.  “ But,” 
persisted  the  visitor,  “ my  friend  is  very  strongly 
recommended.”  “ Now,  look  here,”  said  Mr.  Lin- 
coln, throwing  one  leg  over  the  arm  of  his  chair, 
“ you  are  a farmer,  I believe ; if  not,  you  will  un- 
derstand me.  Suppose  you  had  a large  cattle- 
yard  full  of  all  sorts  of  cattle,  — cows,  oxen,  bulls, 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  261 

— and  you  kept  killing  and  selling  and  disposing 
af  your  cows  and  oxen,  in  one  way  and  another,  — 
taking  good  care  of  your  bulls.  By-and-by  you 
tvould  find  that  you  had  nothing  but  a yard  full  of 
fid  bulls,  good  for  nothing  under  heaven.  Now,  it 
trill  be  just  so  with  the  ai’my,  if  I don’t  stop 
making  brigadier- generals.” 

Captain  Mix,  the  commander,  at  one  period,  of 
the  President’s  body-guard,  told  me  that  on  their 
way  to  town  one  sultry  morning,  from  the  “ Sol- 
diers’ Home,”  they  came  upon  a regiment  march- 
ing into  the  city.  A “ straggler,”  very  heavily 
loaded  with  camp  equipage,  was  accosted  by  the 
President  with  the  question : “ My  lad,  what  is 
that?”  referring  to  the  designation  of  his  regi- 
ment. “ It ’s  a regiment,”  said  the  soldier,  curtly, 
plodding  on,  his  gaze  bent  steadily  upon  the  ground. 
“ Yes,  I see  that,”  rejoined  the  President,  “ but  I 
want  to  know  what  regiment.”  “ Pennsyl- 

vania,” replied  the  man  in  the  same  tone,  looking 
neither  to  the  right  nor  the  left.  As  the  carriage 
passed  on,  Mr.  Lincoln  turned  to  Captain  Mix  and 
said,  with  a merry  laugh,  “ It  is  very  evident  that 
chap  smells  no  blood  of  ‘ royalty  ’ in  this  establish- 
ment.” 

Captain  Mix  was  frequently  invited  to  breakfast 
with  the  familv  at  the  “Home  ” residence.  “ Many 
times,”  said  he,  “ have  I listened  to  our  most  elo- 
quent preachers,  but  never  with  the  same' feeling  of 
»we  and  reverence,  as  when  our  Christian  Presi- 


262  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

dent,  his  arm  around  his  son,  with  his  deep,  ear- 
nest tone,  each  morning;  read  a chapter  from  the 
Bible.” 

Some  one  was  discussing,  in  the  presence  of  Mr. 
Lincoln,  the  character  of  a time-serving  Washing- 
ton clergyman.  Said  Mr.  Lincoln  to  his  visitor:  — 

“ I think  you  are  rather  hard  upon  Mr. . 

He  reminds  me  of  a man  in  Illinois,  who  was  tried 
for  passing  a counterfeit  bill.  It  was  in  evidence 
that  before  passing  it  he  had  taken  it  to  the  cashier 
of  a bank  and  asked  his  opinion  of  the  bill,  and  he 
received  a very  prompt  reply  that  it  was  a co’untei*- 
feit.  His  lawyer,  who  had  heard  of  the  evidence 
to  be  brought  against  his  client,  asked  him,  just 
before  going  into  court,  ‘ Did  you  take  the  bill  to 
the  cashier  of  the  bank  and  ask  fiim  if  it  was  good?’ 
‘ I did,’  was  the  reply.  ‘ Well,  what  was  the  reply 
of  the  cashier  ? ’ The  rascal  was  in  a corner,  but 
he  got  out  of  it  in  this  fashion  : ‘ He  said  it  was  a 
pretty  tolerable,  respectable  sort  of  a bill.’  ” 

Mr.  Lincoln  thought  the  clergyman  was  “a  pretty 
tolerable,  respectable  sort  of  a clergyman.” 

A visitor,  congratulating  Mr.  Lincoln  on  the 
prospects  of  his  reelection,  was  answered  with  an 
anecdote  of  an  Illinois  farmer  who  undertook  to 
blast  his  own  rocks.  His  first  effort  at  producing 
an  explosion  proved  a failure.  He  explained  the 
cause  by  exclaiming,  “ Pshaw,  this  powder  has  been 
shot  before ! ” 

An  amusing,  yet  touching  instance  of  the  Presi- 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  263 


dent’s  preoccupation  of  mind,  occurred  at  one  of 
his  levees,  when  he  was  shaking  hands  with  a host 
of  visitors  passing'him  in  a continuous  stream.  An 
intimate  acquaintance  received  the  usual  conven- 
tional hand-shake  "and  salutation,  but  perceiving  that 
he  was  not  recognized,  kept  his  ground  instead  of 
moving  on,  and  spoke  again  ; when  the  President, 
roused  to  a dim  consciousness  that  something  un- 
usual had  happened,  perceived  who  stood  before 
him,  and  seizing  his  friend’s  hand,  shook  it  again 
heartily,  saying,  “ How  do  you  do  ? How  do  you 
do?  ‘Excuse  me  for  not  noticing  you.  I was 
thinking  of  a man  down  South.”  He  afterward 
privately  acknowledged  that  the  “ man  down  South  ” 
was  Sherman,  then  on  his  march  to  the  sea. 

Mr.  Lincoln  may  not  have  expected  death  from 
the  hand  of  an  assassin,  but  he  had  an  impression, 
amounting  to  a “ presentiment,”  that  his  life  would 
end  with  the  war.  This  was  expressed  not  only  to 
Mr.  Lovejov,  as  stated  on  a previous  page,  but  to 
Mrs.  Stowe  and  others. 

“ He  told  me,  in  July,  1864,”  says  a correspond- 
ent of  the  Boston  “ Journal,”  “ that  he  was  certain 
he  should  not  outlast  the  rebellion. 

“ It  was  a time  of  dissension  among  the  Repub- 
lcan  leaders.  Many  of  his  best  friends  had  deserted 
aim,  and  were  talking  of  an  opposition  convention 
to  nominate  another  candidate  ; and  universal  gloom 
was  among  the  people. 

“ The  North  was  tired  of  the  war,  and  supposed 


264  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHI'fE  HOUSE. 

an  honorable  peace  attainable.  Mr.  Lincoln  knew 
it  was  not,  — that  any  peace  at  that  time  would  be 
only  disunion.  Speaking  of  it,  he  said  : ‘ I have 
faith  in  the  people.  They  will  not  consent  to  dis- 
union. The  danger  is,  in  their  being  misled.  Let 
them  know  the  truth,  and  the  country  is  safe.’  He 
looked  haggard  and  careworn  ; and  further  on  in 
the  interview  I remarked  on  his  appearance,  ‘ You 
are  wearing  yourself  out  with  work.’  ‘ I can’t 
work  less,’  he  answered ; ‘ but  it  is  n’t  that,  — 
work  never  troubled  me.  Things  look  badly,  and 
I can’t  avoid  anxiety.  Personally,  I care  nothing 
about  a reelection  ; but  if  our  divisions  defeat  us,  I 
fear  for  the  country.’  When  I suggested  that 
right  must  eventually  triumph,  that  I had  never 
despaired  of  the  result,  he  said  : — 

“ ‘ Neither  have  I,  but  I may  never  live  to  see 
it.  I feel  a presentiment  that  I shall  not  outlast 
the  Rebellion.  When  it  is  over,  my  work  will  be 
done.’  ” 

“ The  Freedmen,”  once  said  the  President  to  the 
Secretary  of  War,  .“are  the  ‘wards’  of  the  na- 
tion.” 

“Yes,”  replied  Stanton,  “ wards  in  chancery.” 

A few  days  before  the  President’s  death,  Secre- 
tary Stanton  tendered  his  resignation  of  the  War 
Department.  He  accompanied  the  act  with  a heart- 
felt tribute  to  Mr.  Lincoln’s  constant  friendship 
and  faithful  devotion  to  the  country ; saying,  also, 
that  he  as  Secretary  had  accepted  the  position  to 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  265 


hold  it  only  until  the  war  should  end,  and  that 
now  he  felt  his  work  was  done,  and  his  duty  was  to 
resign. 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  greatly  moved  by  the  Secre- 
tary’s words,  and  tearing  in  pieces  the  paper  con- 
taining the  resignation,  and  throwing  his  arms  about 
the  Secretary,  he  said  : “ Stanton,  you  have  been  a 
good  friend  and  a faithful  public  servant,  and  it 
is  not  for  you  to  say  when  you  will  no  longer  be 
needed  here.”  Several  friends  of  both  parties  were 
present  on  the  occasion,  and  there  was  not  a dry 
eye  that  witnessed  the  scene. 

“ On  the  night  of  the  3rd  of  March,  the  Secre- 
tary of  War,  with  others  of  the  Cabinet,  were  in 
the  company  of  the  President,  at  the  Capitol,  await- 
ing the  passage  of  the  final  bills  of  Congress.  In 
the  intervals  of  reading  and  signing  these  docu- 
ments,  the  military  situation  was  considered,  — the 
lively  conversation  tinged  by  the  confident  and 
glowing  account  of  General  Grant,  of  his  mastery 
of  the  position,  and  of  his  belief  that  a few  days 
more  would  see  Richmond  in  -our  possession,  and 
the  army  of  Lee  either  dispersed  utterly  or  cap- 
tured bodily,  — when  the  telegram  from  Grant 
was  received,  saying  that  Lee  had  asked  an ‘inter- 
view with  reference  to  peace.  Mr.  Lincoln  was 
elated,  and  the  kindness  of  his  heart  was  manifest 
in  intimations  of  favorable  terms  to  be  granted  to 
the  conquered  Rebels. 

“ Stanton  listened  in  silence,  restraining  his  emo- 


266  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

tion,  but  at  length  the  tide  burst  forth.  ‘ Mr.  Pres- 
ident,’ said  lie,  ‘ to-morrow  is  inauguration  day.  If 
you  are  not  to  be  the  President  of  an  obedient  and 
united  people,  you  had  better  not  be  inaugurated. 
Your  work  is  already  done,  if  any  other  authority 
than  yours  is  for  one  moment  to  be  recognized,  01 
any  terms  made  that  do  not  signify  you  are  the 
supreme  head  of  the  nation.  If  generals  in  the 
field  are  to  negotiate  peace,  or  any  other  chief  mag- 
istrate is  to  be  acknowledged  on  this  continent,  then 
you  are  not  needed,  and  you  had  better  not  take 
the  oath  of  office.’ 

“ ‘ Stanton,  you  are  right ! ’ said  the  President, 
his  whole  tone  changing.  ‘ Let  me  have  a pen.’ 

“ Mr.  Lincoln  sat  down  at  the  table,  and  wrote 
as  follows  : — 

“ ‘ The  President  directs  me  to  say  to  you  that 
he  wishes  you  to  have  no  conference  with  General 
Lee,  unless  it  be  for  the  capitulation  of  Lee’s  army, 
or  on  some  minor  or  purely  military  matter.  He 
instructs  me  to  say  that  you  are  not  to  decide,  dis- 
cuss, or  confer  upon  any  political  question.  Such 
questions  the  President  holds  in  his  own  hands,  and 
will  submit  them  to  no  military  conferences  or  con- 
ventions. In  the  mean  time  you  are  to  press  to  the 
utmost  your  military  advantages.’ 

“ The  President  read  over  what  he  had  written, 
and  then  said  : — 

“ ‘ Now  Stanton,  date  and  sign  this  paper,  and 
Bend  it  to  Grant.  We  ’ll  see  about  this  peace  busi- 
ness.’ 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  26*1 


“ The  duty  was  discharged  only  too  gladly  by 
the  energetic  and  far-sighted  Secretary ; with  what 
effect  and  renown  the  country  knows  full  well.”  * 

Governor  Yates,  of  Illinois,  in  a speech  at  Spring- 
field,  quoted  one  of  Mr.  Lincoln’s  early  friends  — 
W.  T.  Greene  — as  having  said  that  the  first  time 
he  ever  saw  Mr.  Lincoln,  he  was  in  the»Sangamon 
River  with  his  trousers  rolled  up  five  feet,  more  or 
less,  trying  to  pilot  a flat-boat  over  a mill-dam. 
The  boat  was  so  full  of  water  that  it  was  hard  to 
manage.  Lincoln  got  the  prow  over,  and  then, 
instead  of  waiting  to  bail  the  water  out,  bored  a 
hole  through  the  projecting  part  and  let  it  run  out ; 
affording  a forcible  illustration  of  the  ready  ingenu- 
ity of  the  future  President  in  the  quick  invention 
of  moral  expedients. 

“ Some  two  years  ago,”  said  Colonel  Forney,  in 
a speech  at  Weldon,  Pennsylvania,  before  the  “Sol- 
diers’ Aid  Society,”  in  1865,  “ a deputation  of  col- 
ored people  came  from  Louisiana,  for  the  purpose 
of  laying  before  the  President  a petition  asking  cer- 
tain rights,  not  including  the  right  of  universal 
suffrage.  The  interview  took  place  in  the  pres- 
ence of  a number  of  distinguished  gentlemen.  After 
reading  their  memorial,  he  turned  to  them  and  said : 
‘ I regret,  gentlemen,  that  you  are  not  able  to  se- 
cure all  your  rights,  and  that  circumstances  will  not 
permit  the  government  to  confer  them  upon  you. 
I wish  you  would  amend  your  petition,  so  as  to 

* Boston  Commonwealth. 


268  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOliSE. 

include  several  suggestions  which  I think  will  give 
more  effect  to  your  prayer,  and  after  having  done 
so  please  hand  it  to  me.’  The  leading  colored  man 
said  : ‘ If  you  will  permit  me,  I will  do  sp  here.’ 
‘ Are  you,  then,  the  author  of  this  eloquent  pro- 
duction ? ’ asked  Mr.  Lincoln.  ‘ Whether  eloquent 
or  not,’  was  the  reply,  ‘ it  is  my  work ; ’ and  the 
Louisiana  negro  sat  down  at  the  President’s  side 
and  rapidly  and  intelligently  carried  out  the  sug- 
gestions that  had  been  made  to  him.  The  Southern 
gentlemen  who  were  present  at  this  scene  did  not 
hesitate  to  admit  that  their  prejudices  had  just  re- 
ceived another  shock. 

“ To  show  the  magnanimity  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  I 
may  mention  that  on  one  occasion,  when  an  edito- 
rial article  appeared  in  my  newspaper,  the  Wash- 
ington ‘ Chronicle,’  speaking  well  of  the  bravery 
and  the  mistaken  sincerity  of  Stonewall  Jackson, 
the  news  of  whose  death  had  been  just  received, 
the  President  wrote  me  a letter  thanking  me  warmly 
for  speaking  kindly  of  a fallen  foe.  These  were  his 
words  : — 

“ ‘ I- honor  you  for  your  generosity  to  one  who, 
though  contending  against  us  in  a guilty  cause,  was 
nevertheless  a gallant  man.  Let  us  forget  his  sins 
over  his  fresh-made  grave.’ 

“ Again,  I happened  to  be  in  the  Executive 
Chamber  when  a number  of  Kentuckians  insisted 
that  troops  should  not  be  sent  through  that  State 
for  the  purpose  of  putting  down  the  rebel  spirit  in 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  269 


Tennessee.  The  President  was  hesitating  what  to 
do,  and  they  were  pressing  immediate  action. 

“ ‘ I am,’  he  said,  ‘ a good  deal  like  the  farmer 
who,  returning  to  his  home  one  winter  night,  found 
his  two  sweet  little  boys  asleep  with  a hideous  ser- 
pent crawling  over  their  bodies.  He  could  not 
strike  the  serpent  without  wounding  or  killing  the 
children,  so  he  calmly  waited  until  it  had  moved 
away.  Now  I do  not  want  to  act  in  a hurry  about 
this  matter ; I don’t  want  to  hurt  anybody  in  Ken- 
tucky ; but  I will  get  the  serpent  out  of  Tennessee.’ 

“ And  he  did  march  through  Kentucky,  to  the 
aid  of  Andrew  Johnson’s  mountaineers.” 

“ The  roll  containing  the  Emancipation  Procla- 
mation was  taken  to  Mr.  Lincoln  at  noon  on  the 
first  day  of  January,  1863,  by  Secretary  Seward 
and  his  son  Frederick.  As  it  lay  unrolled  before 
him,  Mr.  Lincoln  took  a pen,  dipped  it  in  ink, 
moved  his  hand  to  the  place  for  the  signature,  held 
it  a moment,  and  then  removed  his  hand  and  dropped 
the  pen.  After  a little  hesitation  he  again  took  up 
the  pen  and  went  through  the  same  movement  as 
before.  Mr.  Lincoln  then  turned*  to  Mr.  Seward, 
and  said  : — 

“ ‘ I have  been  shaking  hands  since  nine  o’clock 
this  morning,  and  my  right  arm  is  almost  paralyzed. 
If  my  name  ever  goes  into  history  it  will  be  for 
this  act,  and  my  whole  soul  is  in  it.  If  my  hand 
trembles  when  I sign  the  Proclamation,  all  who 
examine  the  document  hereafter  will  say,  “ He  hes 
itated.”  ’ 


270  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

“ He  then  turned  to  the  table,  took  up  the  pen 
again,  and  slowly,  firmly  wrote  that  ‘ Abraham  Lin- 
coln ’ with  which  the  whole  world  is  now  familiar. 
He  looked  up,  smiled,  and  said : ‘ That  will  do,’  ” * 

What  Mr.  Lincoln’s  policy  on  the  subject  of 
“ reconstruction  ” would  have  been,  had  he  lived, 
is  clearly  foreshadowed  in  the  following  extract 
from  a letter  to  General  Wadsworth,  who  was 
killed  in  one  of  the  battles  of  the  Wilderness. 
Few  sentences  from  Mr.  Lincoln’s  lips  or  pen  are 
more  worthy  the  profound  consideration  and  re- 
membrance of  his  countrymen. 

“ You  desire  to  know,  in  the  event  of  our  com- 
plete success  in  the  field,  the  same  being  followed 
by  a loyal  and  cheerful  submission  on  the  part  of 
the  South,  if  universal  amnesty  should  not  be  ac- 
companied with  universal  suffrage. 

“ Now,  since  you  know  my  private  inclinations 
as  to  what  terms  should  be  granted  to  the  South  in 
the  contingency  mentioned,  I will  here  add,  that 
if  our  success  should  thus  be  realized,  followed  by 
such  desired  results,  I cannot  see,  if  universal  am- 
nesty i§  granted,  how,  under  the  circumstances,  I 
can  avoid  exacting  in  return  universal  suffrage,  or 
at  least  suffrage  on  the  basis  of  intelligence  and 
military  service. 

“ How  to  better  the  condition  of  the  colored  race 
has  long  been  a study  which  has  attracted  my  seri- 
ous and  careful  attention ; hence  I think  I am  clear 


* Rochester  (New  York)  Express. 


'six  months  at  the  white  house.  271 


and  decided  as  to  what  course  I shall  pursue  in  the 
premises,  regarding  it  a religious  duty,  as  the  na- 
tion’s guardian  of  these  people  who  have  so  hero- 
ically vindicated  their  manhood  on  the  battle-field, 
where,  in  assisting  to  save  the  life  of  the  Republic, 
they  have  demonstrated  in  blood  their  right  to  the 
ballot,  which  is  but  the  humane  protection  of  the 
flag  they  have  so  fearlessly  defended.” 

When  Mr.  Lincoln  was  in  Congress,  General 
Cass  was  nominated  by  the  Democratic  party  for 
President.  In  a speech  on  the  floor  of  the  House 
shortly  afterward,  Mr.  Lincoln  subjected  the  politi- 
cal course  of  the  candidate  to  scathing  criticism. 
Quoting  extracts  from  the  speeches  of  General 
Cass,  to  show  his  vacillation  in  reference  to  the 
Wilmot  Proviso,  he  added  : “ These  extracts  show 
that  in  1846  General  Cass  was  for  the  Proviso  at 
once ; that  in  March,  1847,  he  was  still  for  it,  but 
not  just  then  ; and  that  in  December,  he  was  against 
it  altogether.  This  is  a true  index  of  the  whole 
man.  When  the  question  was  raised  in  1846,  he 
was  in  a blustering  hurry  to  take  ground  for  it,  . . . 
but  soon  he  began  to  see  glimpses  of  the  great  Dem- 
ocratic ox-gad  waving  in  his  face,  and  to  hear  indis- 
tinctly a voice  saying : ‘ Back  ! back,  sir  ! back  a 
little ! ’ He  shakes  his  head,  and  bats  his  eyes,  and 
blunders  back  to  his  position  of  March,  1847 ; but 
still  the  ‘ gad  ’ waves,  and  the  voice  grows  more 
distinct  and  sharper  still : 6 Back,  sir  ! back,  I say  ! 
farther  back  ! ’ and  back  he  goes  to  the  position  of 


272  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.’ 

December,  1847,  at  which  the  ‘ gad  ’ is  still,  and 
the  voice  soothingly  says : ‘ So ! stand  still  at 

that ! ’ ” 

A party  of  gentlemen,  among  whom  was  a doc- 
tor of  divinity  of  much  dignity  of  manner,  calling 
at  the  White  House  one  day,  was  informed  by  the 
porter  that  the  President  was  at  dinner,  but  that  he 
would  present  their  cards.  The  doctor  demurred 
to  this,  saying  that  he  would  call  again.  “ Edward  ” 
assured  them  that  he  thought  it  would  make  no  dif- 
ference, and  went  in  with  the  cards.  In  a few  min- 
utes the  President  walked  into  the  room,  with  a 
kindly  salutation,  and  a request  that  the  friends 
would  take  seats.  The  doctor  expressed  his  regret 
that  their  visit  was  so  ill-timed,  and  that  his  Ex- 
cellency was  disturbed  while  at  dinner.  “ Oh  ! 
no  consequence  at  all,”  said  Mr.  Lincoln,  good- 
naturedly.  “ Mrs.  Lincoln  is  absent  at  present, 
and  when  she  is  away,  I generally  ‘ browse  ’ 
around.” 

“ Upon  entering  the  President’s  office  one  after- 
noon,” says  a Washington  correspondent,  “ I found 
Mr.  Lincoln  busily  counting  greenbacks.  ‘ This, 
sir,’  said  he,  ‘ is  something  out  of  my  usual  line ; 
but  a President  of  the  United  States  has  a multi- 
plicity of  duties  not  specified  in  the  Constitution  or 
acts  of  Congress.  This  is  one  of  them.  This  money 
belongs  to  a poor  negro  who  is  a porter  in  the 
Treasury  Department,  at  present  very  bad  with  the 
small-pox.  He  is  now  in  hospital,  and  could  not 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  \yHITE  HOUSE.  # 27  b 

draw  his  pay  because  he  could  not  sign  his  name.  I 
have  been  at  considerable  trouble  to  overcome  the 
difficulty  and  get  it  for  him,  and  have  at  length  suc- 
ceeded in  cutting  red  tape,  as  you  newspaper  men 
say.  I am  now  dividing  the  money  and  putting  by 
a portion  labelled,  in  an  envelope,  with  my  own 
hands,  according  to  his  wish ; ’ and  he  proceeded  to 
indorse  the  package  very  carefully.”  No  one  wit-, 
nessing  the  transaction  could  fail  to  appreciate  the 
goodness  of  heart  which  prompted  the  President  of 
the  United  States  to  turn  aside  for  a time  from  his 
weighty  cares  to  succor  one  of  the  humblest  of  his 
fellow-creatures  in  sickness  and  sorrow. 

When  General  Phelps  took  possession  of  Ship 
Island,  near  New  Orleans,  early  in  the  war,  it  will 
be  remembered  that  he  issued  a proclamation,  some- 
what bombastic  in  tone,  freeing  the  slaves.  To  the 
surprise  of  many  people,  on  both  sides,  the'  Presi- 
dent took  no  official  notice  of  this  movement.  Some 
time  had  elapsed,  when  one  day  a friend  took  him  to 
• task  for  his  seeming  indifference  on  so  important  a 
matter. 

“ Well,”  said  Mr.  Lincoln,  “ I feel  about  that  a 
good  deal  as  a man  whom  I will  call  ‘ Jones,’  whom 
I once  knew,  did  about  his  wife.  He  was  one  of 
your  meek  men,  and  had  the  reputation  of  being 
badly  henpecked.  At  last,  one  day  his  wife  was 
seen  switching  him  out  of  the  house.  A day  or 
two  afterward  a friend  met  him  in  the  street,  and 
said  : ‘ Jones,  I have  always  stood  up  for  you,  as  you 
18 


274  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


know ; but  I am  not  going  to  do  it  any  longer. 
Any  man  who  will  stand  quietly  and  take  a switch- 
ing from  his  wife,  deserves  to  be  horsewhipped.’ 
‘Jones’  looked  up  with  a wink,  patting,  his  friend 
on  the  back.,  ‘ Now  don't,'  said  he  : ‘ why,  it  didn’t 
hurt  me  any  ; and  you ’ve  no  idea  what  a power  of 
good  it  did  Sarah  Ann  ? ’ ” 

• The  Rev.  Dr.  Bellows,  of  New  York,  as  Presi- 
dent of  the  Sanitary  Commission,  backed  by  power- 
ful influences,  had  pressed  with  great  strenuousness 
upon  the  President  the  appointment  of  Dr.  Ham- 
mond as  Surgeon-General.  For  some  unexplained 
reason,  there  was  an  unaccountable  delay  in  making 
the  appointment.  One  stormy  evening  — the  rain 
falling  in  torrents — Dr.  Bellows,  thinking  few  vis- 
itors likely  to  trouble  the  President  in  such  a storm, 
determined  to  make  a final  appeal,  and  stepping 
into  a carriage,  he  was  driven  to  the  White  House. 
Upon  entering  the  Executive  Chamber,  he  found  Mr. 
Lincoln  alone,  seated  at  the  long  table,  busily  en- 
gaged in  signing  a heap  of  congressional  documents,  * 
which  lay  before  him.  He  barely  nodded  to  Dr. 
Bellows  as  he  entered,  having  learned  what  to  ex- 
pect, and  kept  straight  on  with  his  work.  Standing 
opposite  to  him,,  Dr.  B.  employed  his  most  powerful 
arguments,  for  ten  or  fifteen  minutes,  to  accomplish 
the  end  sought,  the  President  keeping  steadily  on^ 
signing  the  documents  before  him.  Pausing,  at 
length,  to  take  breath,  the  clergyman  was  greeted 
in  the  most  unconcerned  manner,  the  pen  still  at 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  275 

work,  with,  — “ Should  n’t  wonder  if  Hammond 
was  at  this  moment  ‘ Surgeon-General,’  and  had 
been  for  some  time.” 

“ You  don’t  mean  to  saj,  Mr.  President,”  asked 
Dr.  B.  in  surprise,  “ that  the  appointment  lias  been 
made  ? ” 

“ I may  saj  to  you,”  returned  Mr.  Lincoln,  for 
the  first  time  looking  up,  “ that  it  has  ; only  you 
need  n’t  tell  of  it  just  yet.” 

In  August,  1864,  the  prospects  of  the  Union 
party,  in  reference  to  the  Presidential  election, 
became  very  gloomy.  A friend,  the  private  sec- 
retary of  one  of  the  cabinet  ministers,  who  spent 
a few  days  in  New  York  at  this  juncture,  re- 
turned to  Washington  with  so  discouraging  an 
account  of  the  political  situation,  that  after  hearing 
it,  the  Secretary  told  him  to  go  over  to  the  White 
House  and  repeat  it  to  the  President.  My  friend 
said  that  he  found  Mr.  Lincoln  alone,  looking  more 
than  usually  careworn  and  sad.  Upon  hearing  the 
statement,  he  walked  two  or  three  times  across  the 
floor  in  silence.  Returning,  he  said  with  grim  ear- 
nestness of  tone  and  manner:  “ Well,  I cannot  run 
the  political  machine  ; I have  enough  on  my  hands 
without  that.  It  is  the  people's  business,  — the 
election  is  in  their  hands.  If  they  turn  their  backs 
to  the' fire,  and  get  scorched  in  the  rear,  they’ll 
find  they  have  got  to  ‘ sit ' on  the  ‘blister  ’ ! ” 

Mr.  Lincoln  came  to  have  an  almost  morbid 
dread  of  office-seekers,  from  whose  importunity  the 


27G 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


executive  of  a republican  government  can  neces- 
sarily never  be  free.  Harassed  with  applications 
of  every  description,  lie  once  said  that  it  sometimes 
seemed  as  if  every  visitor  “ darted  at  him,  and 
with  thumb  and  finger  carried  off  a portion  of  his 
vitality.” 

As  the  day  of  his  reinauguration  approached,  he 
said  to  Senator  Clark,  of  New  Hampshire,  “ Can’t 
you  and  others  start  a public  sentiment  in  favor  of 
making  no  changes  in  offices  except  for  good  and 
sufficient  cause  ? It  seems  as  though  the  bare 
thought  of  going  through  again  what  I did  the 
first  year  here,  would  crush  me.”  To  another  he 
said,  “ I have  made  up  my  mind  to  make  very  few 
changes  in  the  offices  in  my  gift  for  my  second 
term.  I think  now  that  I will  not  remove  a sin- 
gle man,  except  for  delinquency.  To  remove  a 
man  is  very  easy,  but  when  I go  to  fill  his  place, 
there  are  twenty  applicants,  and  of  these  I must 
make  nineteen'  enemies.”  “Under  these  circum- 
stances,” says  one  of  his  friends,  “ Mr.  Lincoln’s 
natural  charity  for  all  was  often  turned  into  an 
unwonted  suspicion  of  the  motives  of  men  whose 
selfishness  cost  him  so  much  wear  of  mind.  Once 
he  said,  ‘ Sitting  here,  where  all  the  avenues  to 
public  patronage  seem  to  come  together  in  a knot, 
it  does  seem  to  me  that  our  people  are  fast  ap- 
proaching the  point  where  it  can  be  said  that 
seven  eighths  of  them  are  trying  to  find  how  to 
live  at  the  expense  of  the  other  eighth.” 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  277 

A year  or  more  before  Mr.  Lincoln’s  death,  a 
delegation  of  clergymen  waited  upon  him  in  refer- 
ence to  the  appointment  of  the  army  chaplains.  The 
delegation  consisted  of  a Presbyterian,  a Baptist, 
and  an  Episcopal  clergyman.  They  stated  that  the 
character  of  many  of  the  chaplains  was  notoriously 
bad,  and  they  had  come  to  urge  upon  the  Presi- 
dent the  necessity  of  more  discretion  in  these  ap- 
pointments. “ But,  gentlemen,”  said  the  Presi- 
dent, “ that  is  a matter  which  the  Government  has 
nothing  to  do  with  ; the  chaplains  are  chosen  by 
the  regiments.”  Not  satisfied  with  this,  the  cler- 
gymen pressed,  in  turn,  a change  in  the  system. 
Mr.  Lincoln  heard  them  through  without  remark, 
and  then  said,  “Without  any  disrespect,  gentle- 
men, I will  tell  you  a ‘ little  story.’  Once,  in 
Springfield,  I was  going  off  on  a short  journey,  and 
reached  the  depot  a little  ahead  of  time.  Leaning 
against  the  fence  just  outside  the  depot  was  a little 
darkey  boy,  whom  I knew,  named  ‘Dick,’  busily 
digging  with  his  toe  in  a mud-puddle.  As  I came 
up,  I said,  ‘“Dick,”  what  are  you  about?  ’ ‘ Mak-  , 
ing  a “ church ,”  ’ said  he.  ‘A  church  ? ’ said  I ; ‘ what 
do  you  mean?’  ‘Why,  yes,’  said  ‘Dick,’  point- 
.ing  with  his  toe,  ‘ don’t  you  see  ? there  is  the  shape 
of  it ; there ’s  the  “ steps  ” and  “ front-door  ” — 
here  the  “ pews,”  where  the  folks  set  — and  there ’s 
the  “ pulpit.”  ’ ‘ Yes,  I see,’  said  I,  ‘ but  why  don’t 
fou  make  a “ minister  ? ” ’ ‘ Laws,’  answered  ‘ Dick,’ 
with  a grin,  ‘ I hain’t  got  mud  enough  ! ’ ” 


278  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


Mr.  Lincoln  had  a dread  of  people  who  could  not 
appreciate  humor.  He  once  instanced  a member 
of  his  own  cabinet,  of  whom  he  quoted  the  saying 
of  Sydney  Smith,  that  “ it  required  a surgical 
operation  to  get  a joke  into  his  head.”  The  light 
trifles  of  conversation  diverted  his  mind,  or,  as  he 
said  of  his  theatre-going,  gave  him  “ a refuge  from 
himself  and  his  weariness.” 

One  of  the  last  stories  I heard  from  Mr.  Lin- 
coln was  concerning  John  Tyler,  for  whom  it  was 
to  be  expected,  as  an  old  Henry  Clay  Whig,  he 
would  entertain  no  great  respect.  “ A year  or  two 
after  Tyler’s  accession  to  the  Presidency,”  said  he, 
“ contemplating  an  excursion  in  some  direction,  his 
son  went  to  order  a special  train  of  'cars.  It  so 
happened  that  the  railroad  superintendent  was  a 
very  strong  Whig.  On  ‘ Bob’s  ’ making  known 
his  e»rand,  that  official  bluntly  informed  him  that 
his  road  did  not  run  any  special  trains  for  the  Presi- 
dent. ‘ What ! ’ said  ‘ Bob,’  ‘ did  you  not  furnish 
a special  train  for  the  funeral  of  General  Har- 
rison ? ’ ‘Yes,’  said  the  superintendent,  stroking 
his  whiskers  ; ‘ and  if  you  will  only  bring  your 
father  here  in  tlia*  shape,  you  shall  have  the  best 
train  on  the  road  . ’ 

“ Once  — on  what  was  called  a ‘public  day,’  when 
Mr.  Lincoln  received  all  applicants  in  their  turn  — 
the  writer  * was  struck  by  observing,  as  he  passed 
through  the  corridor,  the  heterogeneous  crowd  of 

* Colonel  Charles  G.  Halpine,  New  York  Citizen. 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


279 


men  and  women,  representing  all  ranks  and  classes, 
who  were  gathered  in  the  large  waiting-room  out- 
side  the  Presidential  suite  of  offices. 

“ Being  ushered  into  the  President’s  chamber  by 
Major  Hav,  the  first  thing  he  saw  was  Mr.  Lincoln 
bowing  an  elderly  lady  out  of  the  door,  — the  Pres- 
ident’s remarks  to  her  being,  as  she  still  lingered 
and  appeared  reluctant  to  go : ‘I  am  really  very 
sorry,  madam ; very  sorry.  But  your  own  good 
sense  must  tell  you  that  I am  not  here  to  collect 
small  debts.  You  must  appeal  to  the  courts  in 
regular  order.’ 

“ When  she  was  gone,  Mr.  Lincoln  sat  down, 
crossed  his  legs,  locked  his  hands  over  his  knees, 
and  commenced  to  laugh,  — this  being  his  favorite 

O 7 O 

attitude  when  much  amused. 

“‘What  odd  kinds  of  people  come  to  see  me,’ 
he  said ; ‘ and  what  odd  ideas  they  must  have 
about  my  office  1 Would  you  believe  it,  Major, 
that  old  lady  who  has  just  left,  came  in  here  to  get 
from  me  an  order  for  stopping  the  pay  of  a treas- 
ury clerk,  who  owes  her  a board-bill  of  about  sev- 
enty dollars  ? ’ And  the  President  rocked  himself 
backward  and  forward,  and  appeared  intensely 
amused. 

“ ‘ She  may  have  come  in  here  a loyal  woman,’ 
continued  Mr.  Lincoln  ; ‘ but  I ’ll  be  bound  she 
has  gone  away  believing  that  the  worst  pictures  of 
me  in  tlje  Richmond  press  only  lack  truth  in  not 
being  half  black  and  bad  enough.’ 


280 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


“ This  led  to  a somewhat  general  conversation,  iD 
which  I expressed  surprise  that  he  did  not  adopt 
the  plan  in  force  at  all  military  head-quarters,  un- 
der which  every  applicant  to  see  the  general  com- 
manding: had  to  be  filtered  through  a sieve  of 
officers,  — assistant  adjutant-generals,  and  so  forth, 
— who  allowed  none  in  to  take  up  the  general’s  time 
save  such  as  they  were  satisfied  had  business  of 
sufficient  importance,  and  which  could  be  trans- 
acted in  no  other  manner  than  by  a personal 
interview. 

“ ‘ Of  every  hundred  people  who  come  to  see  the 
general-in-chief  daily,’  I explained,  ‘ not  ten  have 
any  sufficient  business  with  him,  nor  are  they 
admitted.  On  being  asked  to  explain  for  what 
purpose  they  desire  to  see  him,  and  stating  it,  it  is 
found,  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  that  the  business 
properly  belongs  to  some  one  or  other  of  the  sub- 
ordinate bureaus.  They  are  then  referred,  as  the 
case  may  be,  to  the  quartermaster,  commissary, 
medical,  adjutant-general,  or  other  'departments, 
with  an  assurance  that  even  if  they  saw  the 
general-in-chief  he  could  do  nothing  more  for 
them  than  give  the  same  direction.  With  these 
points  courteously  explained,’  I added,  ‘ they  go 
away  quite  content,  although  refused  admittance.’ 

“‘Ah,  yes!’  said  Mr.  Lincoln,  gravely,  — and 
his  words  on  this  matter  are  important  as  illus- 
trating a rule  of  his  action,  and  to  sorne^  extent, 
perhaps,  the  essentially  representative  character  of 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  281 


his  mind  and  of  his  administration,  — ‘ ah,  yes, 
such  things  do  very  well  for  you  military  people, 
with  your  arbitrary  rule,  and  in  your  camps.  But 
the  office  of  President  is  essentially  a civil  one,  and 
the  affair  is  very  different.  For  myself,  I feel  — 
though  the  tax  on  my  time  is  heavy  — that  no 
hours  of  my  day  are  better  employed  than  those 
which  thus  bring  me  again  within  the  direct  contact 
and  atmosphere  of'the  average  of  our  whole  people. 
Men  moving  only  in  an  official  circle  are  apt  to 
become  merely  official  — not  to  say  arbitrary — in 
their  ideas,  and  are  apter  and  apter,  with  each 
passing  day,  to  forget  that  they  only  hold  power  in 
a representative  capacity.  Now  this  is  all  wrong. 
I go  into  these  promiscuous  receptions  of  all  who 
claim  to  have'  business  with  me  twice  each  week, 
and  every  applicant  for  audience  has  to  take  his 
turn,  as  if  - waiting  to  be  shaved  in  a barber’s  shop. 
Many  of  the  matters  brought  to  my  notice  are 
utterly  frivolous,  but  others  are  of  more  or  less 
importance,  and  all  serve  to  renew  in  me  a clearer 
and  more  vivid  image  of  that  great  popular  assem- 
blage out  of  which  I sprung,  and  to  which  at  the 
end  of  two  years  I must  return.  I tell  you,  Ma- 
jor,’ he  said,  — appearing  at  this  point  to  recollect 
I was  in  the  room,  for  the  former  part  of  these 
remarks  had  been  made  with  half-shut  eyes,  as  if 
in  soliloquy,  — ‘ I tell  you  that  I call  these  recep- 
tions my  “ public-opinion  baths;"  for  I have  but 
ifttle  time  to  read  the  papers  and  gather  public 


282  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

opinion  that  way ; and  though  they  may  not  be 
pleasant  in  all  their  particulars,  the  effect,  as  a 
whole,  is  renovating  and  invigorating  to  my  per- 
ceptions of  responsibility  and  duty.’  ” 

No  nobler  reply  ever  fell  from  the  lips  of  ruler,- 
than  that  uttered  by  President  Lincoln  in  response 
to  the  clergyman  who  ventured  to  say,  in  his  pres- 
ence, that  he  hoped  “ the  Lord  was  on  our  side.'” 

% “I  am  not  at  all  concerned  a'bout  that,”  replied 
Mr.  Lincoln,  “ for  I know  that  the  Lord  is  always 
on  the  side  of  the  right.  But  it  is  my  constant  anx- 
iety and  prayer  that  I and  this  nation  should  be  on 
the  Lord’s  side .” 

In  the  midst  of  the  despondency  produced  by  the 
l'aid  on  Washington,  in  the  summer  of  1864,  and 
the  successful  return  of  the  Rebel  force  to  Rich 
mond,  the  President’s  Proclamation  of  July  18th 
appeared,  calling  for  five  hundred  thousand  more 
men. 

In  view  of  the  impending  presidential  canvass, 
Mr.  Lincoln’s  strongest  friends  looked  upon  this 
step,  at  this  time,  as  calculated  to  utterly  defeat  his 
chances  of  reelection.  Commissioner  Dole  ventured 
to  say  as  much  upon  the  President’s  announcement 
to  him  of  his  contemplated  purpose. 

“ It  matters  not  what  becomes  of  me,”  replied 
Mr.  Lincoln ; “ we  must  have  the  men  ! If  I go 
down,  I intend  to  go  like  the  Cumberland , with 
my  colors  flying  ! ” 

Upon  Mr.  Lincoln’s  return  to  Washington,  after 


X 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  283 

the  capture  of  Richmond,  a member  of  the  Cabinet 
asked  hiru  if  it  would  be  proper  to  permit  Jacob 
Thompson  to  slip  through  Maine  in  disguise,  and 
embark  from  Portland.  The  President,  as  usual,  was 
disposed  to  be  merciful,  and  to  permit  the  arch-rebel 
to  pass  unmolested,  but  the  Secretary  urged  that  he 
should  be  arrested  as  a traitor.  “ By  permitting 
him  to  escape  the  penalties  of  treason,”  persistently 
remarked  the  Secretary,  “ you  sanction  it.”  “Well,”  0 
replied  Mr.  Lincoln,  “ let  me  tell  you  a story. 
There  was  an  Irish  soldier  here  last  summer,  who 
wanted  something  to  drink  stronger  than  water,  and 
stopped  at  a drug-shop,  where  he  espied  a soda-foun- 
tain. ‘Mr.  Doctor,’  said  he,  ‘give  me,  plase,  a 
glass  of  soda-bather,  an’  if  yees  can  put  in  a few 
drops  of  whiskey  unbeknown  to  any  one,  I ’ll  be 
obleeged.’  Now,”  continued  Mr.  Lincoln,  “ if 
Jake  Thompson  is  permitted  to  go  through  Maine 
unbeknown  to  any  one,  what ’s  the  harm  ? So  don’t 
have  him  arrested.” 

I asked  the  President,  during  the  progress  of  the 
battles  of  the  Wilderness,  how  General  Grant  per- 
sonally impressed  him  as  compared  with  other  offi- 
cers of  the  army,  and  especially  those  who  had  been 
in  command. 

“ The  great  thing  about  Grant,”  said  he,  “ I 
take  it,  is  his  perfect  coolness  and  persistency  of 
purpose.  I judge  he  is  not  easily  excited,  — which 
is  a great  element  in  an  officer,  — and  he  has  the- 
grit  of  a bull-dog  ! Once  let  him  get  his  ‘ teeth  ’ 
in,  and  nothing  can  shake  him  off.” 


284  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

One  of  the  latest  of  Mr.  Lincoln’s  stories  \tfas 
told  to  a party  of  gentlemen,  who,  amid  the  tum- 
bling ruins  of  the  ‘ Confederacy,’  anxiously,  asked 
“ what  he  would  do  with  ‘ Jeff.  Davis  ’ ? ” 

“ There  was  a boy  in  Springfield,”  rejoined  Mr. 
Lincoln,  “ who  saved  up  his  money  and  bought  a 
‘ coon,’  which,  after  the  novelty  wore  off,  became  a 
great  nuisance.  He  was  one  day  leading  him  through 
the  streets,  and  had  his  hands  full  to  keep  clear  of 
the  little  vixen,  who  had  torn  his  clothes  half  off 
of  him.  At  length  he  sat  down  on  the  curb-stone, 
completely  fagged  out.  A man  passing  was  stopped 
by  the  lad’s  disconsolate  appearance,  and  asked  the 
matter.  ‘ Oh,’  was  the  reply,  ‘ this  coon  is  such 
a trouble  to  me  ! ’ ‘ Why  don’t  you  get  rid  of  him, 

then  ? ’ said  the  gentleman.  ‘ Hush  ! ’ said  the  boy  ; 
‘ don’t  you  see  he  is  gnawing  his  rope  off?  I am 
going  to  let  him  do  it,  and  then  I will  g«  home  and 
tell  the  folks  that  he  got  away  from  me?'  ” 


LXIX. 

The  last  story  told  by.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  drawn 
out  by  a.  circumstance  which  occurred  just  before 
the  interview  with  Messrs.  Colfax  and  Ashmun,  on 
the  evening  of  his  assassination. 

■ Marshal  Lamon  of  Washington  had  called  upon 
him  with  an  application  for  the  pardon  of  a soldier. 
After  a brief  hearing  the  President  took  the  appli 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  285 


cation,  and  when  about  to  write  his  name  upon  the 
back  of  it,  he  looked  up  and  said : “ Lamon,  have 
you  ever  heard  how  the  Patagonians  eat  oysters  ? 
They  open  them  and  throw  the  shells  out  of  the 
window  until  the  pile  gets  higher  than  the  house, 
and  then  they  move  ; ” adding : “ I feel  to-day  like 
commencing  a new  pile  of  pardons,  and  I may  as 
well  begin  it  just  here.” 

At  the  subsequent  interview  with  Messrs.  Colfax 
and  Ashmun,  Mr.  Lincoln  was  in  high  spirits. 
The  uneasiness  felt  by  his  friends  during  his  visit  to 
Richmond  was  dwelt  upon,  when  he  sportively 
replied  that  he  “ supposed  he  should  have  been 
uneasy  also,  had  any  other  man  been  President 
and  gone  there ; but  as  it  was,  he  felt  no  appre- 
hension of  danger  whatever.”  Turning  to  Speaker 
Colfax,  he  said  : “ Sumner  has  the  ‘ gavel  ’ of  the 
Confederate  Congress,  which  he  got  at  Richmond, 
and  intended  to  give  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  but 
I insisted  he  must  give  it  to  you,  and  you  tell  him 
from  me  to  hand  it  over.” 

Mr.  Ashmun,  who  was  the  presiding  officer  of 
the  Chicago  Convention  in  1860,  alluded  to  the 
“ gavel  ” used  on  that  occasion,  saying  he  had  pre- 
served it  as  a valuable  memento. 

Mr.  Ashmun  then  referred  to  a matter  of  busi- 
ness connected  with  a cotton  claim,  preferred  by  a 
client  of  his,  and  said  that  he  desired  to  have  a 
commission  ” appointed  to  examine  and  decide 


286  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


upon  the  merits  of  the  case.  Mr.  Lincoln  replied, 
with  considerable  warmth  of  manner,  “ I have  done 
with  ‘ commissions.’  I believe  they  are  contrivances 
to  cheat  the  Government  out  of  every  pound  of  cotton 
they  can  lay  their  hands  on.”  Mr.  Ashmun’s  face 
flushed,  and  he  replied  that  he  hoped  the  President 
meant  no  personal  imputation. 

Mr.  Lincoln  saw  that  he  had  wotmded  his  friend, 
and  he  instantly  replied : “You  did  not  understand 
me,  Ashmun.  I did  not  mean  what  you  inferred. 
1 take  it  all  back.”  Subsequently  he  said : “ I 
apologize  to  you,  Ashmun.” 

He  then  engaged  to  see  Mr.  Ashmun  early  the 
next  morning,  and  taking  a card,  he  wrote  : 

“ Allow  Mr.  Ashmun  and  friend  to  come  in  at 
9 A.  m.  to-morrow.  A.  Lincoln.” 

These  were  his  last  written  words.  Turning  to 
Mr.  Colfax  he  said:  “You  will  accompany  Mrs. 
Lincoln  and  me  to  the  theatre,  I hope  ? ” Mr. 
Colfax  pleaded  other  engagements,  — expecting  to 
start  on  his  Pacific  trip  the  next  morning.  The 
party  passed  out  on  the  portico  together,  the  Presi- 
dent saying  at  the  very  last,  “ Colfax,  don’t  forget 
to  tell  the  people  of  the  mining  regions  what  I told 
you  this  morning  about  the  development  when 
peace  comes  ; ” then  shaking  hands  with  both  gen- 
tlemen, he  followed  Mrs.  Lincoln  into  the  carriage, 
leaning  forward,  at  the  last  moment,  to  say  as  they 
were  driven  off,  “ I will  telegraph  you,  Colfax,  at 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  287 

San  Francisco,”  — passing  thus  forth  for  the  last 
time  from  under  that  roof  into  the  creeping  shad- 
ows which  were  to  settle  before  another  dawn  into 
a funeral  pall  upon  the  orphaned  heart  of  the 
nation. 


LXX. 

“ On  the  Monday  before  the  assassination,* 
when  the  President  was  on  his  return  from  Rich- 
mond, he  stopped  at  City  Point.  Calling  upon 
the  head  surgeon  at  that  place,  Mr.  Lincoln  told 
him  that  he  wished  to  visit  all  the  hospitals  under 
his  charge,  and  shake  hands  with  every  soldier. 
The  surgeon  asked  if  he  knew  what  he  was 
undertaking,  there  being  five  or  six  thousand 
soldiers  at  that  place,  and  it  would  be  quite  a 
tax  upon  his  strength  to  visit  all  the  wards  and 
shake  hands  with  every  soldier.  Mr.  Lincoln  an- 
* swered  with  a smile,  he  ‘ guessed  he  was  equal  to 
the  task ; at  any  rate  he  would  try,  and  go  as  far 
as  he  could  ; he  should  never,  probably,  see  the 
boys  again,  and  he  wanted  them  to  know  that  he 
appreciated  what  they  had  done  for  their  country.’ 

“ Finding  it  useless  to  try  to  dissuade  him,  the 
surgeon  began  his  rounds  with  the  President,  who 
walked  from  bed  to  bed,  extending  his  hand  to  all, 
saying  a few  words  of  sympathy  to  some,  making 
* Correspondence  of  the  iV.  Y.  Independent. 


288  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

kind  inquiries  of  others,  and  welcomed  by  all  with 
the  heartiest  cordiality. 

“ As  they  passed  along,  they  came  to  a ward  in 
which  lay  a Rebel  who  had  been  wounded  and  was 
a prisoner.  As  the  tall  figure  of  the  kindly  visitor 
appeared  in  sight  he  was  recognized  by  the  Rebel 
soldier,  who,  raising  himself  on  his  elbow  in  ‘bed, 
watched  Mr.  Lincoln  as  he  approached,  and  extend- 
ing his  hand  exclaimed,  while  tears  ran  down  his 
cheeks : ‘ Mr.  Lincoln,  I have  long  wanted  to  see 
you,  to  ask  your  forgiveness  for  ever  raising  my 
hand  against  the  old  flag.’  Mr.  Lincoln  was  moved 
to  tears.  He  heartily  shook  the  hand  of  the  re- 
pentant Rebel,  and  assured  him  of  his  good-will, 
and  with  a few  words  of  kind  advice  passed  on. 

“ After  some  hours  the  tour  of  the  various  hospi- 
tals was  made,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  returned  with  the 
surgeon  to  his  office.  They  had  scarcely  entered, 
however,  when  a messenger  came  saying  that  one 
ward  had  been  omitted,  and  ‘ the  boys  ’ wanted  to 
see  the  President.  The  surgeon,  who  was  thor-  * 
oughly  tired,  and  knew  Mr.  Lincoln  must  be,  tried 
to  dissuade  him  from  going ; but  the  good  man  said 
he  must  go  back  ; he  would  not  knowingly  omit  one, 

‘ the  boys  ’ would  be  so  disappointed.  So  he  went 
with  the  messenger,  accompanied  by  the  surgeon, 
and  shook  hands  with  the  gratified  soldiers,  and 
then  returned  again  to  the  office. 

“ The  surgeon  expressed  the  fear  that  the  Pres- 
ident’s arm  would  be  lamed  with  so  muoh  hand- 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  289 

shaking,  saying  that  it  certainly  must  ache.  Mr. 
Lincoln  smiled,  and  saying  something  about  his 
‘ strong  muscles,’  stepped  out  at  the  open  door, 
took  up  a very  large,  heavy  axe  which  lay  there  by 
a log  of  wood,  and  chopped  vigorously  for  a few 
moments,  sending  the  chips  flying  in  all  directions  ; 
and  then,  pausing,  he  extended  his  right  arm  to  its 
full  length,  holding  the  axe  out  horizontally,  with- 
out its  eATen  quivering  as  he  held  it.  Strong  men 
who  looked  on  — men  accustomed  to  manual  labor 
• — could  not  hold  the  same  axe  in  that  position  for 
a moment.  Returning  to  the  office,  he  took  a glass 
of  lemonade,  for  he  would  take  no  stronger  bever- 
age ; and  while  he  was  within,  the  chips  he  had 
chopped  were  gathered  up  and  safely  cared  for  by 
a hospital  steward,  because  they  were  ‘ the  chips 
that  Father  Abraham  chopped.’  In  a few  hours 
more  the  beloved  President  was  at  home  in  Wash 
ington  ; in  a few  days  more  he  had  passed  away 
and  a bereaved  nation  was  in  mourning.” 

LXXI. 

Mr.  Lincoln  returned  from  Richmond  with  a 
heart-full  purpose  to  issue  immediately  a proclama- 
tion for  a day  of  National  Thanksgiving.  “ Baby- 
lon ” had  fallen,  and  with  his  own  eyes,  as  from 
another  Pisgah,  he  had  looked  over  into  the  prom- 
ised land  of  Peace,  — a land  which,  like  his  great 
prototype,  his  feet  were  not  to  tread ! 

19 


290  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

During  his  absence  from  Washington,  Secretaiy 
Seward  met  with  the  serious  accident  by  which  his 
arm  and  jaw  were  broken.  Mr.  Lincoln’s  first  visit 
was  to  the  house  of  the  Secretary,  who  was  con- 
fined to  his  bed  by  his  injuries.  After  a few  words 
of  sympathy  and  condolence,  with  a countenance 
beaming  with  joy  and  satisfaction,  he  entered  upon 
an  account  of  his  visit  t(5  Richmond,  and  the  glori- 
ous success  of  Grant,  — throwing  himself,  in  his 
almost  boyish  exultation,  at  full  length  across  the 
bed,  supporting  his  head  upon  one  hand,  and  in  this 
manner  reciting  the  story  of  the  collapse  of  the 
Rebellion.  Concluding,  he  lifted  himself  up  and 
said  : “ And  now  for  a day  of  Thanksgiving  ! ” 
Mr.  Seward  entered  fully  into  his  feelings,  but  ob- 
served, with  characteristic  caution,  that  the  issue 
between  Sherman  and  Johnston  had  not  yet  been 
decided,  and  a premature  celebration  might  have 
the  effect  to  nerve  the  remaining  army  of  the 
Confederacy  to  greater  desperation.  He  advised, 
therefore,  no  official  designation  of  a day  “ until 
the  result  of  Sherman’s  combinations  was  known.” 
Admitting  the  force  of  the  Secretary’s  view,  Mr. 
Lincoln  reluctantly  gave  up  the  purpose,  and  three 
days  later  suffered  in  his  own  person  the  last,  most 
atrocious,  but  culminating  act  of  the  most  wicked 
of  all  rebellions  recorded  on  the  pages  of  history  ! 
It  was  the  last  interview  on  eai’th  between  the 
President  and  his  Secretary  of  State. 

This  incident,  related  by  Mr.  Seward  to  a friend  * 

* J.  C.  Derby,  Esq.,  of  New  York. 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  291 


while  slowly  recovering  from  the  murderous  attack 
upon  himself,  was  followed  by  an  interesting  account 
of  his  personal  relations  with  Mr.  Lincoln.  “ No 
knife  was  ever  sharp  enough  to  divide  us  upon 
any  question  of  public  policy,”  said  the  Secretary ; 
“ though  we  frequently  arrived  at  the  same  con- 
clusion through  different  processes  of  thought.” 
“ Once  only,”  he  continued,  musingly,  “did  we  dis- 
agree in  sentiment.”  Mr.  D.  inquired  the  subject 
of  dissent.  “ His  ‘ colonization  ’ scheme,”  was  the 
reply,  “ which  I opposed  on  the  self-evident  prin- 
ciple that  all  natives  of  a country  have  an  equal 
right  in  its  soil.” 

The  knowledge  of  the  terrible  calamity  which 
had  befallen  the  nation  was  rigidly  withheld  from 
Mr.  Seward  at  the  time,  his  physician  fearing  that 
the  shock  would  be  too  great  for  him  to  bear.  The 
Sunday  following,  he  had  his  bed  wheeled  around 
so  that  he  could  see  the  tops  of  the  trees  in  the 
park  opposite  his  residence,  — just  putting  on  their 
spring  foliage,  — when  his  eyes  caught  sight  of  the 
Stars  and  Stripes  at  half-mast  on  the  War  Depart- 
ment, on  which  he  gazed  awhile,  then  turning  tc 
his  attendant,  said  : “ The  President  is  dead  ! ” 
The  confused  attendant  stammered  as  he  tried  to 
say  nay ; but  the  Secretary  could  not  be  deceived. 
“ If  he  had  been  alive,  he  would  have  been  the 
first  to  call  on  me,”  he  continued  ; “ but  he  has  not 
been  here,  nor  has  he  sent  to  know  how  I am  ; and 
there  is  the  flag  at  half-mast.”  The  statesman’s 


292  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


inductive  reason  had  discerned  the  truth,  and  in 
silence  the  great  tears  coursed  down  his  gashed 
cheeks,  as  it  sank  into  his  heart. 

Lxxn. 

At  the  Cabinet  meeting  held  the  morning  of  the 
day  of  the  assassination,  it  was  afterward  remem- 
bered, a remarkable  circumstance  occurred.  Gen- 
eral Grant  was  present,  and  during  a lull  in  the 
discussion  the  President  turned  to  him  and  asked 
if  he  had  heard  from  General  Sherman.  General 
Grant  replied  that  he  had  not,  but  was  in  hourly 
expectation  of  receiving  despatches  from  him  an- 
nouncing the  surrender  of  Johnston. 

“Well,”  said  the  President,  “you  will  hear 
very  soon  now,  and  the  news  will  be  important.” 

“ Why  do  you  think  so  ? ” said  the  General. 

“ Because,”  said  Mr.  Lincoln,  “ I had  a dream 
last  night ; and  ever  since  the  war  began,  I have 
invariably  had  the  same  dream  before  any  impor- 
tant military  event  occurred.”  He  then  instanced 
Bull  Run,  Antietam,  Gettysburg,  etc.,  and  said 
that  before  each  of  these  events,  he  had  had  the 
same  dream  ; and  turning  to  Secretary  Welles, 
said:  “It  is  in  your  line,  too,  Mr.  Welles.  The 
dream  is,  that  I saw  a ship  sailing  very  rapidly ; 
and  I am  sure  that  it  portends  some  important 
national  event.” 

Later  in  the  day,  dismissing  all  business,  the 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


293 


carriage  was  ordered  for  a drive.  When  asked  by 
Mrs.  Lincoln  if  he  would  like  any  one  to  accom- 
pany them,  he  replied,  “ No ; I prefer  to  ride  by 
ourselves  to-day.”  Mrs.  Lincoln  subsequently  said 
that  she  never  saw  him  seem  so  supremely  happy 
as  on  this  occasion.  In  reply  to  a remark  to  this 
effect,  the  President  said : “ And  well  I may  feel 
so,  Mary,  for  I consider  this  day  the  war  has  come 
to  a close.”  And  then  added:  “We  must  both  be 
more  cheerful  in  the  future  ; between  the  war  and 
the  loss  of  our  darling  Willie,  we  have  been  very 
miserable.” 

Little  “ Tad’s  ” frantic  grief  upon  being  told 
that  his  father  had  been  shot  was  alluded  to  in 
the  Washington  correspondence  of  the  time.  For 
twenty-four  hours  the  little  fellow  was  perfectly 
inconsolable.  Sunday  morning,  however,  the  sun 
rose  in  unclouded  splendor,  and  in  his  simplicity  he 
looked  upon  this  as  a token  that  his  father  was 
happy.  “ Do  you  think  my  father  has  gone  to 
heaven  ? ” he  asked  of  a gentleman  who  had  called 
upon  Mrs.  Lincoln.  “ I have  not  a doubt  of  it,” 
wras  the  reply.  “ Then,”  he  exclaimed,  in  his 
broken  way,  “ I am  glad  he  has  gone  there,  for  he 
never  was  happy  after  he  came  here.  This  was 
not  a good  place  for  him  1 ” 


294  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


LXXIII. 

« 

“ President  Lincoln,”  says  the  Hon.  W.  D 
Kelly,*  “ was  a large  and  many-sided  man,  and 
yet  so  simple  that  no  one,  not  even  a child,  could 
approach  him  without  feeling  that  he  had  found  in 
him  a sympathizing  friend.  I remember  that  I 
apprised  him  of  the  fact  that  a lad,  the  son  of  one 
of  my  townsmen,  had  served  a year  on  board  the 
gunboat  Ottmva,  and  had  been  in  two  important" 
engagements;  in  the  first  as  a powder-monkey, 
when  he  had  conducted  himself  with  such  coolness 
that  he  had  been  chosen  as  captain’s  messenger  in 
the  second  ; and  I suggested  to  the  President  that 
it  was  in  his  power  to  send  to  the  Naval  School, 
annually,  three  boys  who  had  served  at  least  a year 
in  the  navy. 

“ He  at  once  wrote  on  the  back  of  a letter  from 
the  commander  of  the  Ottaiva , which  I had  handed 
him,  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy:  ‘If  the  ap- 
pointments for  this  year  have  not  been  made,  let 
this  boy  be  appointed.’  The  appointment  had  not 
been  made,  and  I brought  it  home  with  me.  It 
directed  the  lad  to  report  for  examination  at  the 
school  .in  July.  Just  as  he  was  ready  to  start,  his 
father,  looking  over  the  law,  discovered  that  he 
could  not  report  until  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age, 
which  he  would  not  be  until  September  follow- 
ing. The  poor  child  sat  down  and  wept.  Ho 

* Address  in  Philadelphia  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Lincoln. 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  295 


feared  that  he  was  not  to  go  to  the  Naval  School. 
He  was,  however,  soon  consoled  by  being  told  that 
‘ the  President  could  make  it  right.’  It  was  my 
fortune  to  meet  him  the  next  morning  at  the  door 
of  the  Executive  Chamber  with  his  father. 

“ Taking  by  the  hand  the  little  fellow,  — short 
for  his  age,  dressed  in  the  sailor’s  blue  pants  and 
shirt,  — I advanced  with  him  to  the  President,  who 
sat  in  his  usual  seat,  and  said  : ‘ Mr.  President, 
my  young  friend,  Willie  Bladen,  finds  a difficulty 
about  his  appointment.  You  have  directed  him  to 
appear  at  the  school  in  July  ; but  he  is  not  yet 
fourteen  years  of  age.’  But  before  I got  half  of 
this  out,  Mr.  Lincoln,  laying  down  his  spectacles, 
rose  and  said  : ‘ Bless  me  ! is  that  the  boy  who  did 
so  gallantly  in  those  two  great  battles  ? Why,  I 
feel  that  I should  bow  to  him,  and  not  he  to  me.’ 

“ The  little  fellow  had  made  his  graceful  bow. 
The  President  took  the  papers  at  once,  and  as  soon 
as  he  learned  that  a postponement  till ' September 
would  suffice,  made  the  order  that  the  lad  should 
report  in  that  month.  Then  putting  his  hand  on 
Y/illie’s  head,  he  said  : ‘ No\v,  my  boy,  go  home 
and  have  good  fun  during  the  two  months,  for  they 
are  about  the  last  holiday  you  will  get.’  The  little 
fellow  bowed  himself  out,  feelino-  that  the  Presi- 
dent  of  the  United  States,  though  a very  great 
man,  was  one  that  he  would  nevertheless  like  to 
have  a game  of  romps  with.” 

There  was  not  unfrequently  a curious  mingling 


296  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


of  humor  and  pathos  exhibited  in  Mr.  Lincoln’s 
exercise  of  the  pardoning  power.  Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor Ford,  of  Ohio,  had  an  appointment  with  him 
one  evening  at  six  o’clock.  As  he  entered  the 
vestibule  of  the  White  House  his  attention  was 
attracted  by  a poorly  clad  young  woman  who  was 
violently  sobbing.  He  asked  her  the  cause  of  her 
distress.  She  said  that  she  had  been  ordered  away 
by  the  servants,  after  vainly  waiting  many  hours  to 
see -the  President  about  her  only  brother,  who  had 
been  condemned  to  death.  Her  story  was  this : 
She  and  her  brother  were  foreigners,  and  orphans. 
They  had  been  in  this  country  several  years.  Her 
brother  enlisted  in  the  army,  but,  through  bad 
influences,  was  induced  to  desert.  He  was  cap- 
tured, tried,  and  sentenced  to  be  shot  — the  old 
story.  The  poor  girl  had  obtained  the  signatures 
of  some  persons  who  had  formerly  known  him  to 
a petition  for  a pardon,  and,  alone,  had  come  to 
Washington  to  lay  the  case  before  the  President. 
Thronged  as  the  waiting-rooms  always  were,  she 
had  passed  the  long  hours  of  two  days  trying  in 
vain  to  get  an  audience,  and  had  at  length  been 
ordered  away. 

Mr.  Ford’s  sympathies  were  at  once  enlisted. 
He  said  that  he  had  come  to  see  the  President,  but 
did  not  know  as  he  should  succeed.  He  told  her, 
however,  to  follow  him  up-stairs,  and  he  would  see 
what  could  be  done.  Just  before  reaching  the 
door,  Mr.  Lincoln  came  out,  and  meeting  his  friend, 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


297 


said  good-humoredlv,  “ are  you  not  ahead  of 
time?”  Mr.  Ford  showed  his  watch,  with  the 
pointers  upon  the  hour  of  six.  “ Well,”  replied 
Mr.  Lincoln,  “ I have  been  so  busy  to-day  that  I 
have  not  had  time  to  get  a lunch.  Go  in  and  sit 
down  ; I will  be  back  directly.” 

Mr.  Ford  made  the  young  woman  accompany 
him  into  the  office,  and  when  they  were  seated, 
said  to  her:  “Now,  my  good  girl,  I want  you  to 
muster  all  the  courage  you  have  in  the  world. 
When  the  President  comes  back  he  will  sit  down 
in  that  arm-chair.  I shall  get  up  to  speak  to  him, 
and  as  I do  so  you  must  force  yourself  between 
us,  and  insist  upon  his  examination  of  your'papers, 
telling  him  it  is  a case  of  life  and  death,  and  admits 
of  no  delay.”  These  instructions  were  carried  out 
to  the  letter.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  at  first  somewhat 
surprised  at  the  apparent  forwardness  of  the  young 
woman,  but  observing  her  distressed  appearance, 
he  ceased  conversation  with  his  friend,  and  com- 
menced an  examination  of  the  document  she  had 
placed  in  his  hands.  Glancing  from  it  to  the  face 
of  the  petitioner,  whose  tears  had  broken  forth 
afresh,  he  studied  its  expression  for  a moment,  and 
then  his  eye  fell  upon  her  scanty  but  neat  dress. 
Instantly  his  face  lighted  up.  “ My  poor  girl,” 
said  he,  “you  have  come  herewith  no  governor, 
or  senator,  or  member  of  congress,  to  plead  yow 
cause.  You  seem  honest  and  truthful ; and  ” — 
with  much  emphasis — “you  don’t  wear  '■hoops; 


298  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

and  I will  be  whipped  but  I will  pardon  your 
brother ! ” 

Among  the  applicants  received  on  another  occa- 
sion by  the  President,  was  a woman  who  had  also 
met  with  considerable  difficulty  and  delay  in  getting 
admission  to  him.  She  said  that  her  husband  had 
been  arrested  some  months  before  and  sent  to  the 
“ Old  Capitol  ” prison ; that  he  had  not  been 
“ tried,”  and  could  not  learn  as  he  was  likely  to 
be  ; and  she  appealed  to  the  President  as  a hus- 
band and  father  to  interfere  and  order  an  imme- 
diate trial.  Mr.  Lincoln  said  he  was  sorry  this 
could  not  be  done,  — adding  that  such  cases  were 
much  like  the  different  sacks  of  grain  at  a country 
grist-mill,  all  “waiting  their  turn  to  be  ground,” 
and  that  it  would  be  unfair  for  the  “ miller  ” to 
show  any  “ partiality.”  The  woman  left,  but  the 
next  day  appeared  again  before  him.  Recognizing 
her,  Mr.  Lincoln  asked  if  anything  “ new  ” had 
happened.  “ No,”  replied  the  woman  ; “ but  I 
have  been  thinking,  sir,  about  what  you  said  con- 
cerning the  ‘ grists,’  and  I am  afraid  mine  will  get 
‘mouldy’  and  ‘spoil’  before  its  turn  comes  around, 
so  I have  come  to  ask,  Mr.  President,  that  it  may 
be  taken  to  some  other  ‘ mill  ’ to  be  ground.” 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  so  much  amused  at  the  wit 
and  shrewdness  of  the  request,  that  he  instantly 
gave  the  woman  an  unconditional  discharge  for  her 
husband. 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  299 


LXXIY. 

“ Good  morning,  Abe  ! ” was  the  greeting  ad- 
dressed to  the  President,  as  we  sat  together  in  his 
office  one  morning,  — he  absorbed  at  his  desk,  and 
I with  my  pencil.  I looked  up  in  astonishment  at 
the  unaccustomed  familiarity. 

“ Why,  Dennis,”  returned  Mr.  Lincoln,  “ is  this 
you  ? ” 

“ Yes,  Abe,”  was  the  rejoinder  ; “ I made  up  my 
mind  I must  come  down  and  see  you  once  while 
you  were  President,  anyhow.  So  here  I am,  all  the 
way  from  Sangamon.” 

Sitting  down,  side'  by  side,  it  would  have  been 
difficult  for  one  unfamiliar  with  democratic  institu- 
tions to  tell,  by  the  appearance  or  conversation, 
which  was  the  President  and  which  the  back-coun- 
tryman, save  that  from  time  to  time  I overheard  the 
man  addressed  as  “ Dennis  ” refer  to  family  trials 
and  hardships,  and  intimate  that  one  object  of  his 
journey  so  far,  was  to  see  if  his  old  friend  “ could 
not  do  something  for  one  of  his  boys?  ” 

The  response  to  this  was:  “Now,  Dennis,  sit 
down  and  write  out  what  you  want,  so  that  I can 
have  it  before  me,  and  I will  see  what  can  be  done.” 

I have  always  supposed  that  this  was  “ Dennis 
Hanks,”  the  early  companion  and  friend  of  Mr. 
Lincoln  ; but  my  attention  at  the  time  being  di- 
verted, the  matter  passed  out  of  my  mind,  and  I 
neglected  subsequently  to  inquire. 


300  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

About  this  period  — it  may  have  been  the  fol- 
lowing evening  — the  house  was  thrown  into  an 
uproar  by  a performance  of  little  “ Tad’s.”  I was 
sitting  in  Mr.  Nicolay’s  room,  about  ten  o’clock 
when  Robert  Lincoln  came  in  with  a flushed  face. 
“ Well,”  said  he,  “ I have  just  had  a great  row 
with  the  President  of  the  United  States  ! ” 

“ What  ? ” said  I. 

“Yes,”  he  replied,  “ and  very  good  cause  there  is 
for  it,  too.  Do  you  know,”  he  continued,  “ * Tad’ 
went  over  to  the  War  Department  to-day,  and 
Stanton,  for  the  fun  of  the  thing,  — putting  him  a 
peg  above  the  ‘ little  corporal  ’ of  the  French  Gov- 
ernment,— commissioned  him  4 lieutenant.’  On  the 
strength  of  this,  what  does  ‘ Tad  ’ do  but  go  off  and 
order  a quantity  of  muskets  sent  to  the  house  ! To- 
night he  had  the  audacity  to  discharge  the  guard, 
and  he  then  mustered  all  the  gardeners  and  ser- 
vants, gave  them  the  guns,  drilled  them,  and  put 
them  on  duty  in  their  place.  I found  it  out  an  hour 
ago,”  continued  Robert,  “ and  thinking  it  a great 
shame,  as  the  men  had  been  hard  at  work  all  day,  I 
went  to  father  with  it ; but  instead  of  punishing 
‘ Tad,’  as  I think  he  ought,  he  evidently  looks  upon 
it  as  a good  joke,  and  won’t  do  anything  about  it ! ” 

“ Tad,”  however,  presently  went  to  bed,  and  then 
the  men  were  quietly  discharged.  And  so  it  hap-, 
pened  that  the  presidential  mansion  was  unguarded 
one  night,  at  least,  during  the  war  ! 

The  second  week  in  July  the  whole  country,  and 


SiX  MONTHS  AT  T1IE  WHITE  HOUSE.  3oJ 


Washington  in  particular,  was  thrown  into  a fever  o* 
anxiety  by  the  jybel  raid  upon  that  city  under  Earh 
and  Breckinridge.  The  night  of  Sunday,  the  10th, 
I have  always  believed  the  city  might  have  been 
captured  had  the  enemy  followed  up  his  advantage 
The  defences  were  weak,  and  there  were  compara- 
tively but  few  troops  in  the  city  or  vicinity.  All 
day  Monday  the  excitement  was  at  the  highest 
pitch.  At  the  White  House  the  cannonading  at 
Fort  Stevens  was  distinctly  heard  throughout  the 
day.  During  Sunday,  Monday,  and  Tuesday,  the 
President  visited  the  forts  and  outworks,  part  of  the 
time  accompanied  by  Mrs.  Lincoln.  While  at  Fort 
Stevens  on  Monday,  both  were  imprudently  ex- 
posed, — rifle  - balls  coming,  in  several  instances, 
alarmingly  near ! 

The  almost  defenceless  condition  of  the  city  was 
the  occasion  of  much  censure.  Some  blamed  Gen- 
eral Halleck ; others  General  Augur,  the  com- 
mander of  the  Department;  others  the  Secretary 
of  War;  and  still  others  the  President. 

Subsequently  the  rebel  force  returned  to  Rich- 
mond almost  unharmed.  I saw  no  one  who  aj> 
peared  to  take  this  more  to  heart  than  Mrs.  Lin- 
coln, who  was  inclined  to  lay  the  responsibility  at 
the  door  of  the  Secretary  of  War. 

Two  or  three  weeks  later,  when  tranquillity  was 
perfectly  restored,  it  was  said  that  Stanton  called 
upon  the  President  and  Mrs.  Lincoln  one  evening 
at  the  “ Soldiers’  Home.”  In  the  course  of  conver- 


302  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

sation  the  Secretary  said,  playfully,  “ Mrs.  Lin- 
coln, I intend  to  have  a full-length  portrait  of  you 
painted,  standing  on  the  ramparts  at  Fort  Stevens 
overlooking  the  fight ! ” 

“ That  is  vei’y  well,”  returned  Mrs.  Lincoln,  very 
promptly ; “ and  I can  assure  you  of  one  thing,  Mr. 
Secretary,  if  I had  had  a few  ladies  with  me  the 
Rebels  would  not  have  been  permitted  to  get  away 
as  they  did  ! ” 

LXXY. 

It  was  not  generally  known  before  the  publica- 
tion of  Dr.  Holland’s  biography  of  Mr.  Lincoln, 
that  he  was  once  engaged  in  a “ duel,”  although  a 
version  of  the  affair  had  been  published  previous 
to  his  biographer’s  account  of  it,  which,  however-, 
the  few  who  saw  it  were  disposed  to  regard  as  a 
fabrication. 

One  evening,  at  the  rooms  of  the  Hon.  I.  N. 
Arnold,  of  Illinois,  I met  Dr.  Henry,  of  Oregon, 
an  early  and  intimate  friend  of  Mr.  Lincoln’s.  Mr. 
Arnold  asked  me  in  the  course  of  conversation  if 
I had  ever  heard  of  the  President’s  “ duel  ” with 
General  Shields  ? I replied  that  I might  have  seen 
a statement  of  the  kind,  but  did  not  suppose  it  to 
be  true.  “Well,”  said  Mr.  Arnold,  “ we  were  all 
^oung  folks  together  at  the  time  in  Springfield. 
In  some  way  a difficulty  occurred  between  Shields 
and  Lincoln,  resulting  in  a challenge  from  Shields, 
which  was  at  length  accepted,  Mr.  Lincoln  nam- 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


303 


ing  ‘ broadswords  ’ for  weapons,  and  the  two  oppo- 
site banks  of  the  Mississippi,  where  the  river  was 
about  a mile  wide,  for  the  ‘ ground .’  ” 

Dr.  Henry,  who  had  listened  quietly  to  this,  here 
broke  in,  “ That  will  do  for  a 4 story,’  Arnold,” 
said  he,  44  but  it  will  hardly  pass  with  me,  for  I 
happened  to  be  Lincoln’s  4 second  ’ on  the  occasion  4 
The  facts  are  these.  You  will  bear  me  witness 
that  there  was  never  a more  spirited  circle  of  young 
folks  in  one  town  than  lived  in  Springfield  at  that 
period.  Shields,  you  remember,  was  a great  4 beau.' 
For  a bit  of  amusement  one  of  the  young  ladies 
wrote  some  verses,  taking  him  off  sarcastically, 
which  were  abstracted  from  her  writing-desk  by 
a mischievous  friend,  and  published  in  the  local 
newspaper.  Shields,  greatly  irritated,  posted  at 
once  to  the  printing-office  and  demanded  the  name 
of  the  author.  Much  frightened,  the  editor  re 
quested  a day  or  two  to  consider  the  matter,  and 
upon  getting  rid  of  Shields  went  directly  to  Mr. 
Lincoln  with  his  trouble. 

44  4 Tell  Shields,’  was  the  chivalric  rejoinder,  4 that 
I hold  myself  responsible  for  the  verses.’  The 
next  day  Mr.  Lincoln  left  for  a distant  section  to 
attend  court.  Shields,  boiling  over  with  wrath, 
followed  and  4 challenged  ’ him.  Scarcely  know- 
ing what  he  did,  Mr.  Lincoln  accepted  the  chal- 
lenge, seeing  no  alternative.  The  choice  of  weap- 
ons being  left  to  him,  he  named  4 broadswords,’ 
intending  to  act  only  on  the  defensive,  and  think- 


304  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


ing  his  long  arms  would  enable  him  to  keep  clear 
of  his  antagonist. 

“ I was  then  a young  surgeon,”  continued  Dr. 
Henry,  “ and'  Mr.  Lincoln  desired  me  accompany 
him  to  the  point  chosen  for  the  contest,  — ‘ Bloody 
Island,’  in  the  Mississippi,  near  St.  Louis,  — as  his 
‘ second.’  To  this  I at  length  consented,  hoping 
to  prevent  bloodshed.  On  our  way  to  the  ground 
we  met  Colonel  Hardin,  a friend  of  both  parties, 
and  a cousin  of  the  lady  who  was  the  real  offender. 
Suspecting  something  wrong,  Hardin  subsequently 
followed  us,  coming  in  upon  the  party  just  as  Lin- 
coln was  clearing  up  the  underbrush  which  covered 
the  ground.  Entering  heartily  upon  an  attempt  at 
pacification,  he  at  length  succeeded  in  mollifying 
Shields,  and  the  whole  party  returned  harmoniously 
to  Springfield,  and  thus  the  matter  ended.” 

This  version  of  the  affair  coming  from  an  eye- 
witness is  undoubtedly  in  all  respects  correct.  It 
subsequently  came  in  my  way  to  know  that  Mr. 
Lincoln  himself  regarded  the  circumstance  with 
much  regret  and  mortification,  and  hoped  it  might 
be  forgotten.  In  February  preceding  his  death  a 
distinguished  officer  of  the  army  called  at  the  White 
House,  and  was  entertained  by  the  President  and 
Mi’s.  Lincoln  for  an  hour  in  the  parlor.  During 
the  conversation  the  gentleman  said,  turning  to 
Mrs.  Lincoln,  “ Is  it  true,  Mr.  President,  as  I have 
heard,  that  you  once  went  out  to  fight  a 4 duel  ’ for 
the  sake  of  the  lady  by  your  side  ? ” 


SEX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  305 


“ I do  not  deny  it,”  replied  Mr.  Lincoln,  with 
a flushed  face ; “ but  if  you  desire  my  friendship 
you  will  never  mention  the  circumstance  again ! ” 


LXXYI. 

In  August  following  the  rebel  raid,  Judge  J.  T. 
Mills,  of  Wisconsin,  in  company  with  ex- Governor 
Randall,  of  that  State,  called  upon  the  President  at 
the  “ Soldiers’  Home.” 

Judge  Mills  subsequently  published  the  following 
account  of  the  interview,  in  the  “ Grar  - County 
(Wisconsin)  Herald  ” : — 

“ The  Governor  addressed  him  : ‘ Mr.  President, 
this  is  my  friend  and  your  friend  Mills,  from  Wis- 
consin.’ 

“ ‘ I am  glad  to  see  my  friends  from  Wisconsin  ; 
they  are  the  hearty  friends  of  the  Union.’ 

“ ‘ I could  not  leave  the  city,  Mr.  President, 
without  hearing  words  of  cheer  from  your  own  lips. 
Upon  you,  as  the  representative  of  the  loyal  people, 
depend,  as  we  believe,  the  existence  of  our  govern- 
ment and  the  future  of  America.’ 

“ 4 Mr.  President,’  said  Governor  Randall,  ‘ why 
can't  you  seek  seclusion,  and  play  hermit  for  a fort- 
night ? it  would  reinvigorate  you.’ 

“ 4 Aye,’  said  the  President,  4 two  or  three  weeks 
would  do  me  good,  but  I cannot  fly  from  my 
thoughts ; my  solicitude  for  this  great  country  fol 
20 


306  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


lows  me  wherever  I go.  I don’t  think  it  is  personal 
vanity  or  ambition,  though  I am  not  free  from  these 
infirmities,  but  I cannot  but  feel  that  the  weal  or 
woe  of  this  great  nation  will  be  decided  in  Novem- 
ber. There  is  no  programme  offered  by  any  wing 
of  the  Democratic  party  but  that  must  result  in  the 
permanent  destruction  of  the  Union.’ 

“ ‘ But  Mr.  President,  General  McClellan  is  in 
favor  of  crushing  out  the  rebellion  by  force.  He 
will  be  the  Chicago  candidate.’ 

“ ‘ Sir,’  said  the  President,  ‘ the  slightest  knowl- 
edge of  arithmetic  will  provS  to  any  man  that  the 
rebel  armies  cannot  be  destroyed  by  democratic 
strategy.  It  would  sacrifice  all  the  white  men  of 
the  North  to  do  it.  There  are  now  in  the  service 
of  the  United  States  near  two  hundred  thousand 
able-bodied  colored  men,  most  of  them  under  arms, 
defending  and  acquiring  Union  territory.  The 
democratic  strategy  demands  that  these  forces  should 
be  disbanded,  and  that  the  masters  be  conciliated  by 
restoring  them  to  slavery.  The  black  men  who  now 
assist  Union  prisoners  to  escape  are  to  be  converted 
into  our  enemies,  in  the  vain  hope  of  gaining  the 
good-will  of  their  masters.  We  shall  have  to  fight 
two  nations  instead  of  one. 

“ ‘ You  cannot  conciliate  the  South  if  you  guar- 
antee to  them  id ti mate  success ; and  the  experience 
of  the  present  war  proves  their  success  is  inevitable 
if  you  fling  the  compulsory  labor  of  millions  of  black 
men  into  their  side  of  the  scale.  Will  you  give 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  307 


our  enemies  such  military  advantages  as  insure  suc- 
cess, and  then  depend  on  coaxing,  flattery,  and  con- 
cession, to  get  them  back  into  the  Union  ? Aban- 
don all  the  posts  now  garrisoned  by  black  men  ; 
take  two  hundred  thousand  men  from  our  side  and 
put  them  in  the  battle-field  or  cornfield  against  us, 
and  we  would  be  compelled  to  abandon  the  war  in 
three  weeks. 

“ ‘We  have  to  hold  territory  in  inclement  and 
sickly  places  ; where  are  the  Democrats  to  do  this  ? 
It  was  a free  fight,  and  the  field  was  open  to  the 
War  Democrats  to  put  down  this  rebellion  by  fight- 
ing against  both  master  and  slave  long  before  the 
present  policy  was  inaugurated. 

“ ‘ There  have  been  men  base  enough  to  propose 
to  me  to  return  to  slavery  the  black  warriors  of 
Port  Hudson  and  Olustee,  and  thus  win  the  respect 
of  the  masters  they  fought.  Should  I do  so,  I should 
deserve  to  be  damned  in  time  and  eternity.  Come 
what  will,  I will  keep  my  faith  with  friend  and  foe. 
My  enemies  pretend  I am  now  canying  on  this  war 
for  the  sole  purpose  of  Abolition.  So  long  as  I am 
President,  it  shall  be  carried  on  for  the  sole  purpose 
of  restoring  the  Union.  But  no  human  power  can 
subdue  this  rebellion  without  the  use  of  the  emanci- 
pation policy,  and  every  other  policy  calculated  to 
weaken  the  moral  and  physical  forces  of  the  rebel- 
lion. 

“ ‘ Freedom  has  given  us  two  hundred  thousand 

O 

men  raised  on  Southern  soil.  It  will  give  us  more 


308  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


yet.  Just  so  much  it  has  subtracted  from  the  en- 
emy, and  instead  of  alienating  the  South,  there  are 
now  evidences  of  a fraternal  feeling  growing  up  be- 
tween our  men  and  the  rank  and  file  of  the  rebel 
soldiers.  Let  my  enemies  prove  to  the  country 
that  the  destruction  of  slavery  is  not  necessary 
to  a restoration  of  the  Union.  I will  abide  the 
issue.’ 

“ I saw  that  the  President  was  a man  of  deep 
convictions,  of  abiding  faith  in  justice,  truth,  and 
Providence.  His  voice  was  pleasant,  his  manner 
earnest  and  emphatic.  As  he  warmed  with  his 
theme,  his  mind  grew  to  the  magnitude  of  his  body. 
I felt  I was  in  the  presence  of  the  great  guiding  in- 
tellect of  the  age,  and  that  those  ‘ huge  Atlantean 
shoulders  were  fit  to  bear  the  weight  of  mightiest 
monarchies.’  His  transparent  honesty,  republican 
simplicity,  his  gushing  sympathy  for  those  who  of- 
fered their  lives  for  their  country,  his  utter  forget- 
fulness of  self  in  his  concern  for  its  welfare,  could 
not  but  inspire  me  with  confidence  that  he  was 
Heaven’s  instrument  to  conduct  his  people  through 
this  sea  of  blood  to  a Canaan  of  peace  and  freedom.” 

LXXVH. 

No  reminiscence  of  the  late  President  has  been 
given  to  the  public  more  thoroughly  valuable  and 
characteristic  than  a sketch  which  appeared  in  the 
New  York  “ Independent  ” of  September  1st,  1864, 


SIS  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  309 


from  the  pen  of  the  Rev.  J.  P.  Gulliver,  of  Nor- 
wich, Connecticut : — 

“ It  was  just  after  his  controversy  with  Douglas, 
and  some  months  before  the  meeting  of  the  Chicago 
Convention  of  1860,  that  Mr.  Lincoln  came  to 
Norwich  to  make  a political  speech.  It  was  in 
substance  the  famous  speech  delivered  in  New 
York,  commencing  with  the  noble  words  : ‘ There 
is  but  one  political  question  before  the  people  of 
this  country,  which  is  this,  Is  slavery  right , or  is  it 
wrong  ? ’ and  ending  with  the  yet  nobler  words  : 
‘ Gentlemen,  it  has  been  said  of  the  world’s  history 
hitherto  that  “ might  makes  right ; ” it  is  for  us  and 
for  our  times  to  reverse  the  maxim,  and  to  show 
that  right  makes  viight ! \ 

44  The  next  morning  I met  him  at  the  railroad 
station,  where  he  was  conversing  with  our  Mayor, 
every  few  minutes  looking  up  the  track  and  inquir- 
ing, half  impatiently  and  half  quizzically,  ‘ Where ’s 
that  ‘ wagon  ’ of  yours  ? Why  don’t  the  4 wagon  ’ 
come  along  ? ’ On  being  introduced  to  him,  he 
fixed  his  eyes  upon  me,  and  said : 4 1 have  seen  you 
before,  sir  ! ’ 4 1 think  not,’  I replied  ; 4 you  must 

mistake  me  for  some  other  person.’  4 No,  I don’t ; 
I saw  you  at  the  Town  Hall,  last  evening.’  4 Is  it 
possible,  Mr.  Lincoln,  that  you  could  observe  indi- 
viduals so  closely  in  such  a crowd  ? ’ 4 Oh,  yes  ! ’ 

he  replied,  laughing  ; 4 that  is  my  way.  I don’t 
forget  faces.  Were  you  not  there  ?’  4 1 was,  sir, 

and  I was  well  paid  for  going ; ’ adding,  somewhat 


310  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


in  the  vein  of  pleasantry  he  had  started,  ‘ I con- 
sider it  one  of  the  most  extraordinary  speeches  I 
ever  heard.’ 

44  As-  we  entered  the  cars,  he  beckoned  me  to 
take  a seat  with  him,  and  said,  in  a most  agreeably 
frank  way,  ‘ Were  you  sincere  in  what  you  said 
about  my  speech  just  now?’  ‘I  meant  every 
word  of  it,  Mr.  Lincoln.  Why,  an  old  dyed-in- 
the-wool  Democrat,  who  sat  near  me,  applauded 
you  repeatedly  ; and,  when  rallied  upon  his  con- 
version to  sound  principles,  answered,  44  I don’t  be- 
lieve a word  he  says,  but  I can’t  help  clapping 
him,  he  is  so  pat!”  That  I call  the  triumph  of 
oratory, — 

“ When  you  convince  a man  against  his  will, 

Though  he  is  of  the  same  opinion  still.” 

Indeed,  sir,  I learned  more  of  the  art  of  public 
speaking  last  evening  than  I could  from  a whole 
course  of  lectures  on  Rhetoric.’ 

“ ‘ Ah  ! that  reminds  me,’  said  he,  ‘ of  a most 
extraordinary  circumstance  which  occurred  in  New 
Haven  the  other  day.  They  told  me  that  the  Pro- 
fessor  of  Rhetoric  in  Yale  College,  — a very  learned 
man,  is  n’t  he  ? ’ 

“ 4 Yes,  sir,  and  a fine  critic  too.’ 

44  4 Well,  I suppose  so;  he  ought  to  be,  at  any 
rate,  — they  told  me  that  he  came  to  hear  me,  and 
took  notes  of  my  speech,  and  gave  a lecture  on  it 
to  his  class  the  next  day ; and,  not  satisfied  with 
that,  he  followed  me  up  to  Meriden  the  next  even- 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  311 

ing,  and  heard  me  again  for  the  same  purpose. 
Now,  if  this  is  so,  it  is  to  my  mind  very  extraordi- 
nary. I have  been  sufficiently  astonished  at  my 
success  in  the  West.  It  has  been  most  unexpected. 
But  I had  no  thought  of  any  marked  success  at 
the  East,  and  least  of  all  that  I should  draw  out 
suen  commendations  from  literary  and  learned  men. 
Now,’  he  continued,  4 I should  like  very  much  to 
know  what  it  was  in  my  speech  you  thought  so 
remarkable,  and  what  you  suppose  interested  my 
friend,  the  Professor,  so  much.’ 

“ ‘ The  clearness  of  your  statements,  Mr.  Lin- 
coln ; the  unanswerable  style  of  your  reasoning, 
and  especially  your  illustrations,  which  were  ro- 
mance and  pathos,  and  fun  and  logic  all  welded 
together.  That  story  about  the  snakes,  for  ex- 
ample, which  set  the  hands  and  feet  of  your  Dem- 
ocratic hearers  in  such  vigorous  motion,  was  at  once 
queer  and  comical,  and  tragic  and  argumentative. 
It  broke  through  all  the  barriers  of  a man’s  previ- 
ous opinions  and  prejudices  at  a crash,  and  blew  up 
the  very  citadel  of  his  false  theories  before  he  could 
know  what  had  hurt  him.’ 

44  4 Can  you  remember  any  other  illustrations,’ 
said  he,  4 of  this  peculiarity  of  my  style  ? ’ 

44 1 gave  him  others  of  the  same  sort,  occupying 
some  half-hour  in  the  critique,  when  he  said : 4 I 
am  much  obliged  to  you  for  this.  I have  been 
wishing  for  a long  time  to  find  some  one  who  would 
make  this  analysis  for  me.  It  throws  light  on  a 


312 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


subject  which  has  been  dark  to  me.  I can  under- 
stand very  readily  how  such  a power  as  you  have 
ascribed  to  me  will  account  for  the  effect  which 
seems  to  he  produced  by  my  speeches.  I hope  you 
have  not  been  too  flattering  in  your  estimate.  Cer- 
tainly, I have  had  a most  wonderful  success,  for  a 
man  of  my  limited  education.’ 

“ ‘ That  suggests,  Mr.  Lincoln,  an  inquiry  which 
has  several  times  been  upon  my  lips  during  this 
conversation.  I want  very  much  to  know  how 
you  got  this  unusual  power  of  “putting  things.” 
It  must  have  been  a matter  of  education.  No  man 
has  it  by  nature  alone.  What  has  your  education 
been  ? ’ 

“ ‘ Well,  as  tq  education,  the.newspapers  are  cor- 
rect ; I never  went  to  school  more  than  six  months 
in  my  life.  But,  as  you  say,  this  must  be  a product 
of  culture  in  some  form.  I have  been  putting  the 
question  you  'ask  me  to  myself,  while  you  have 
been  talking.  I can  say  this,  that  among  my  ear- 
liest recollections  I remember  how,  when  a mere 
child,  I used  to  get  irritated  when  any  body  talked 
to  me  in  a way  I could  not  understand.  I don’t 
think  I ever  got  angry  at  anything  else  in  my  life. 
But  that  always  disturbed  my  temper,  and  has  ever 
since.  I can  remember  going  to  my  little  bed- 
room, after  hearing  the  neighbors  talk  of  an  even- 
ing with  my  father,  and  spending  no  small  part  of 
the  night  walking  up  and  down,  and  trying  to 
make  out  what  was  the  exact  meaning  of  some  of 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  313 


their,  to  me,  dark  sayings.  I could  not  sleep, 
though  I often  tried  to,  when  I got  on  such  a hunt 
after  an  idea,  until  I had  caught  it ; and  when  I 
thought  I had.  got  it,  I was  not  satisfied  until  I 
had  repeated  it  over  and  over,  until  I had  put  it  in 
language  plain  enough,  as  I thought,  for  any  boy 
I knew  to  comprehend.  "This  was  a kind  of  pas- 
sion with  me,  and  it  has  stuck  by  me ; for  I am 
never  easy  now,  Avhen-I  am  handling  a thought,  till 
I have  bounded  it  North,  and  bounded  it  South,  and 
bounded  it  East,  and  bounded  it  West.  Perhaps 
that  accounts  for  the  characteristic  you  observe  in 
my  speeches,  though  I never  put  the  two  things 
together  before.’ 

“ ‘ Mr.  Lincoln,  I thank  you  for  this.  It  is  the 
most  splendid  educational  fact  I ever  happened 
upon.  This  is  genius , with  all  its  impulsive,  in- 
spiring, dominating  power  over  the  mind  of  its 
possessor,  developed  by  education  into  talent , with 
its  uniformity,  its  permanence,  and  its  disciplined 
strength,  — always  ready,  always  available,  never 
capricious,  — the  highest  possession  of  the  human 
intellect.  But,  let  me  ask,  did  you  prepare  for 
your  profession  ? ’ 

“ ‘ Oh,  yes  ! I “ read  law,”  as  the  phrase  is 
that  is,  I became  a lawyer’s  clerk  in  Springfield, 
and  copied  tedious  documents,  and  picked  up  what 
I could  of  law  in  the  intervals  of  other  work.  But 
your  question  reminds  me  of  a bit  of  education  I 
had,  which  I am  bound  in  honesty  to  mention.  In 


814  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


the  course  of  my  law-reading,  I constantly  came 
upon  the  word  demonstrate.  I thought  at  first  that 
I understood  its  meaning,  but  soon  became  satisfied 
that  I did  not.  I said  to  myself,  “ What  do  I mean 
when  I demonstrate  more  than  when  I reason  or 
prove  ? How  does  demonstration  differ  from  any 
other  proof?  ” I consulted  Webster’s  Dictionary. 
That  told  of  “ certain  proof,”  “ proof  beyond  the 
possibility  of  doubt ; ” but^I  could  form  no  idea 
what  sort  of  proof  that  was.  I thought  a great 
many  things  were  proved  beyond  a possibility  of 
doubt,  without  recourse  to  any  such  extraordinary 
process  of  reasoning  as  I understood  “ demonstra- 
tion ” to  be.  I consulted  all  the  dictionaries  and 
books  of  reference  I could  find,  but  with  no  better 
results.  You  might  as  well  have  defined  blue  to  a 
blind  man.  At  last  I said,  “ Lincoln,  you  can 
never  make  a lawyer  if  you  do  not  understand  what 
demonstrate  means ; ” and  I left  my  situation  in 
Springfield,  went  home  to  my  father’s  house,  and 
stayed  there  till  I could  give  any  proposition  in  the 
six  books  of  Euclid  at  sight.  I then  found  out 
what  “ demonstrate  ” means,  and  went  back  to  my 
law-studies.’ 

“ I could  not  refrain  from  saying,  in  my  admira- 
tion at  such  a development  of  character  and  ger.ius 
combined  : ‘Mr.  Lincoln,  your  success  is  no  longer 
a marvel.  It  is  the.  legitimate  result  of  adequate 
causes.  You  deserve  it  all,  and  a great  deal  more. 
If  you  will  permit  me,  I would  like  to  use  this  fact 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  315 


publicly.  It  will  be  most  valuable  in  inciting  our 
young  men  to  that  patient  classical  and  mathemat- 
ical culture  which  most  minds  absolutely  require. 
No  man  can  talk  well  unless  he  is  able  first  of  all 
to  define  to  himself  what  he  is  talking  about.  Eu- 
clid, well  studied,  would  free  the  world  of  half  its 
calamities,  by  banishing  half  the  nonsense  which 
now  deludes  and  curses  it.  I have  often  thought 
that  Euclid  would  b#'  one  of  the  best  books  to  put 
on  the  catalogue  of  the  Tract  Society,  if  they  could 
only  get  people  to  read  it.  It  would  be  a means  of 
grace.’ 

“‘I  think  so,’  said  he,  laughing;  ‘I  vote  for 
Euclid.’ 

“ Just  then  a gentleman  entered  the  car  who  was 
well  known  as  a very  ardent  friend  of  Douglas. 
Beino;  a little  curious  to  see  how  Mr.  Lincoln  would 
meet  him,  I introduced  him  after  this  fashion : — 

‘ Mr.  Lincoln,  allow  me  to  introduce  Mr.  L , 

a very  particular  friend  of  your  particular  friend, 
Mr.  Douglas.’  He  at  once  took  his  hand  in  a most 
cordial  manner,  saying : ‘ I have  no  doubt  you 
think  you  are  right,  sir.’  This  hearty  tribute  to 
the  honesty  of  a political  opponent,  with  the  man- 
ner of  doing  it,  struck  me  as  a beautiful  exhibition 
of  a large-hearted  charity,  of  which  we  see  far  too 
little  in  this  debating,  fermenting  world. 

“ As  we  neared  the  end  of  our  journey,  Mr.  Lin* 
coin  turned  to  me  very  pleasantly,  and  said  : ‘ 1 
want  to  thank  you  for  this  conversation.  I have 


316  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


enjoyed  it  very  much.’  I replied,  referring  to  some 
stalwart  denunciations  he  had  just  been  uttering  of 
the  demoralizing  influences  of  Washington  upon 
Northern  politicians  in  respect  to  the  slavery  ques- 
tion, ‘ Mr.  Lincoln,  may  I say  one  thing  to  you 
before  we  separate  ? ’ 

“ £ Certainly,  anything  you  please.’ 

“ ‘ You  have  just  spoken  of  the  tendency  of  po- 
litical life  in  Washington  to  debase  the  moral  con- 
victions of  our  representatives  there  by  the  admixt- 
ure of  considerations  of  mere  political  expediency. 
You  have  become,  by  the  controversy  with  Mr. 
Douglas,  one  of  our  leaders  in  this  great  struggle 
with  slavery,  which  is  undoubtedly  the  struggle  of 
the  nation  and  the  age.  What  I would  like  to  say 
is  this,  and  I say  it  with  a full  heart,  Be  true  to  your 
•principles  and  we  will  he  true  to  you , and  Giod  will 
he  true  to  us  all ! ’ His  homely  face  lighted  up 
instantly  with  a beaming  expression,  and  taking  my 
hand  warmly  in  both  of  his,  he  said : ‘ I say  Amen 
to  that  • — Amen  to  that ! ’ 

“ There  is  a deep  excavation  in  the  rock  shown 
to  visitors,  among  the  White  Mountains,  into  which 
one  of  the  purest  of  the  mountain  streams  pours 
itself,  known  as  ‘ The  Pool.’  As  you  stand  by  its 
side  at  an  ordinary  time  you  look  down  upon  a 
mass  of  impenetrable  green,  lying  like  a rich  em- 
erald in  a setting  of  granite  upon  the  bosom  of  the 
mountain.  But  occasionally  the  noon-day  sun  darts 
through  it  a vertical  ray  which  penetrates  to  its 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


317 


very  bottom,  and  shows  every  configuration  of  the 
varied  interior.  I felt  at  that  moment  that  a ray 
had  darted  down  to  the  bottom  of  Abraham  Lin- 
coln’s heart,  and  that  I could  see  the  whole.  It 
seemed  to  me  as  beautiful  as  that  emei’ald  pool,  and 
as  pure.  I have  never  forgotten  that  glimpse. 
When  the  strange  revocation  came  of  the  most 
rational  and  reasonable  proclamation  of  Fremont, — 
‘ The  slaves  of  Rebels  shall  be  set  free,’  — I remem- 
bered that  hearty  ‘ Amen,’  and  stifled  my  rising 
apprehensions.  I remembered  it  in  those  dark 
days  when  McClellan,  Nero-like,  was  fiddling  on 
James  River,  and  Pope  was  being  routed  before 
Washington,  and  the  report  came  that  a prominent 
Cabinet  Minister  had  boasted  that  he  had  succeeded 
in  preventing  the  issue  of  the  Emancipation  Proc- 
lamation ; I said : ‘ Abraham  Lincoln  will  prove 
true  yet.’  And  he  has  ! God  bless  him  ! he  has. 
Slow,  if  you  please,  but  true.  Unimpassioned,  if 
you  please,  but  true.  Jocose,  trifling,  if  you  please, 
but  true.  Reluctant  to  part  with  unworthy  official 
advisers,  but  true  himself  — true  as  steel ! I could 
wish  him  less  a man  of  facts,  and  more  a man  of 
ideas.  I could  wish  him  more  stern  and  more  vig- 
orous : but  every  man  has  his  faults,  and  still  I 
say  : Amen  to  Abraham  Lincoln  ! ” * 

* This  article  was  written  and  first  published  some  months  previous 
to  Mr.  Lincoln’s  reelection,  during  the  depression  of  the  public  mind 
following  the  “raid  ” on  Washington. 


318  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


LXXVHI. 

The  Hon.  Orlando  Kellogg,  of  New  York,  was 
sitting  in  his  room  at  his  boarding-house  one  even- 
ing, when  one  of  his  constituents  appeared,  — a 
white-headed  old  man,  — who  had  come  to  Wash- 
ington in  great  trouble,  to  seek  the  aid  of  his  repre- 
sentative in  behalf  of  his  son.  His  story  was  this  : 
“ The  young  man  had  formerly  been  very  dissi- 
pated. During  an  absence  from  home  a year  or 
two  previous  to  the  war,  he  enlisted  in  the  regular 
army,  and,  after  serving  six  months,  deserted.  Re 
turning  to  his  father,  who  knew  nothing  of  this, 
he  reformed  his  habits,  and  when  the  war  broke 
out,  entered  heart  and  soul  into  the  object  of  rais- 
ing a regiment  in  his  native  county,  and  was  sub- 
sequently elected  one  of  its  officers.  He  had  proved 
an  efficient  officer,  distinguishing  himself  particu- 
larly on  one  occasion,  in  a charge  across  a bridge, 
when  he  was  severely  wounded,  — his  colonel 
being  killed  by  his  side.  Shortly  after  this,  he 
came  in  contact  with  one  of  his  old  companions  in 
the  ‘ regular  ’ service,  who  l’ecognized  him,  and 
declared  his  purpose  of  informing  against  him. 
Overwhelmed  with  mortification,  the  young  man 
procured  a furlough  and  returned  home,  revealing 
the  matter  to  his  father,  and  declaring  his  purpose 
never  to  submit  to  an  arrest,  — ‘ he  would  die 
first.’  ” In  broken  tones  the  old  man  finished  his 
statement,  saying : “ Can  you  do  anything  for  us, 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


319 


Judge  ? — it  is  a hard,  hard  case  ! ” “I  will  see 
about  that,”  replied  the  representative,  putting  on 
his  hat ; “ wait  here  until  I return.”  He  went 
immediately  to  the  White  House,  and  fortunately 
finding  Mr.  Lincoln  alone,  they  sat  down  together, 
and  he  repeated  the  old  man’s  story.  The  Piesh 
dent  made  no  demonstration  of  particular  inteiesl 
until  the  Judge  reached  the  description  of  the 
charge  across  .the  bridge,  and  the  wound  received. 
“ Do  you  say,”  he  interrupted,  “ that  the  young 
man  was  wounded?”  “Yes,”  replied  the  con- 
gressman, “ badly.”  “Then  he  has  shed  his  blood 
for  his  country,”  responded  Mr.  Lincoln,  musingly. 
“ Kellogg,”  he  continued,  brightening  up,  “ is  n’t 
there  something  in  Scripture  about  the  ‘ shedding 
of  blood  ’ being  ‘ the  remission  of  sins  ? ’ ” “ Guess 

you  are  about  right  there,”  replied  the  Judge.  “ It 
is  a good  ‘ point,’  and  there  is  no  going  behind 
it,”  rejoined  the  President;  and  taking  up  his  pen, 
another  “ pardon  ” — this  time  without  “ oath,” 
condition,  or  reserve  — was  added  to  the  records 
of  the  War  Office. 

Among  a large  number  of  persons  waiting  in 
the  room  to  speak  with  Mr.  Lincoln,  on  a certain 
day  in  November,  ’64,  Avas  a small,  pale,  delicate* 
looking  boy  about  thirteen  years  old.  The  Presi- 
dent saw  him  standing,  looking  feeble  and  faint, 
and  said  : ‘ Come  here,  my  boy,  and  tell  me  what 
you  want.’  The  boy  advanced,  placed  his  hand  on 
the  arm  of  the  President’s  chair,  and  with  bowed 


320  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


head  and  timid  accents  said : ‘ Mr.  President,  I 
have  been  a drummer  in  a regiment  for  two  years, 
and  my  colonel  got  angry  with  me  and  turned  me 
off.  I was  taken  sick,  and  have  been  a long  time 
in  hospital.  This  is  the  first  time  I have  been  out, 
and  I came  to  see  if  you  could  not  do  something 
for  me.’  The  President  looked  at  him  kindly  and 
tenderly,  and  asked  him  where  he  lived.  ‘ I have 
no  home,’  answered  the  boy.  ‘ Where  is  your 
father  ? ’ ‘ He  died  in  the  army,’  was  the  reply. 

‘ Where  is  your  mother  ? ’ continued  the  President. 
‘ My  mother  is  dead  also.  I have  no  mother,  no 
father,  no  brothers,  no  sisters,  and,’  bursting  into 
tears,  ‘no  friends  — nobody  cares  for  me.’  Mr. 
Lincoln’s  eyes  filled  with  tears,  and  he  said  to  him, 
‘ Can’t  you  sell  newspapers  ? ’ ‘No,’  said  the  boy, 

‘ I am  too  weak ; and  the  surgeon  of  the  hospital 
told  me  I must  leave,  and  I have  no  money,  and  no 
place  to  go  to.’  The  scene  was  wonderfully  affect- 
ing. The  President  drew  forth  a card,  and  ad- 
dressing on  it  certain  officials  to  whom  Ills'  request 
was  law,  gave  special  directions  ‘ to  care  for  this 
poor  boy.’  The  wan  face  of  the  little  drummer  lit 
up  with  a happy  smile  as  he  received  the  paper, 
and  he  went  away  convinced  that  he  had  one  good 
and  true  friend,  at  least,  in  the  person  of  the 
President.”  * 

No  incident  of  this  character  related  of  the  late 
President,  is  more  profoundly  touching  in  its  ten- 

* Rev.  Mr.  Henderson,  Louisville,  Ky. 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


32  i 


derness  and  simplicity  than  that  given  to  me  the 
last  evening  I passed  at  the  White  House,  in  the 
office  of  the  private  secretary,  by  a resident  of 
Washington,*  who  witnessed  the  scene. 

“ I was  waiting  my  turn  to  speak  to  the  Presi- 
dent one  day,  some  three  or  four  weeks  since,” 
said  Mr.  M , “ when  my  attention  was  at- 

tracted by  the  sad  patient  face  of  a woman  ad- 
vanced in  life,  who  in  a faded  hood  and  shawl 
was  among  the  applicants  for  an  interview. 

“ Presently  Mr.  Lincoln  turned  to  her,  saying  in 
his  accustomed  manner,  ‘ Well,  my  good  woman, 
what  can  I do  for  you  this  morning  ? ’ ‘ Mr. 

President,’  said  she,  ‘ my  husband  and  three  sons 
all  went  into  the  arffiy.  My  husband  was  killed  in 

the  fight  at  . I get  along  very  badly  since 

then,  living  all  alone,  and  I thought  I would 
come  and  ask  you  to  release  to  me  my  oldest  son.’ 
Mr.  Lincoln  looked  into  her  face  a moment,  and 
in  his  kindest  accents  responded,  ‘ Certainly  ! cer- 
p,  tainly ! If  you  have  given  us  all , and  your 
prop  has  been  taken  away,  you  are  justly  en- 
titled to  one  of  your  boys ! ’ He  immediately 
made  out  an  order  discharging  the  young  man, 
which  the  woman  took,  and  thanking  him  orate- 
fully,  went  away. 

“ I had  forgotten  the  circumstance,”  continued 

M , “till  last  week,  when  happening  to  be 

here  again,  who  should  come  in  but  the  same 

* Mr.  Murtagh.  of  the  W . shingtm  Republican. 

21 


322 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


woman.  It  appeared  that  she  had  gone  herself  to 
the  front,  with  the  President’s  order,  and  found  the 
son  she  was  in  search  of  had  been  mortally  wounded 
in  a recent  engagement,  and  taken  to  a hospital. 
She  found  the  hospital,  but  the  boy  was  dead,  or 
died  while  she  was  there.  The  surgeon  in  charge 
made  a memorandum  of  the  facts  upon  the  back  of 
the  President’s  order,  and  almost  broken-hearted, 
the  poor  woman  had  found  her  way  again  into  Mr. 
Lincoln’s  presence.  He  was  much  affected  by  her 
appearance  and  story,  and  said  : ‘ I know  what  you 
wish  ire  to  do  now,  and  I shall  do  it  without  your 
asking ; 1 shall  release  to  you  your  second  son.’ 
Upon  this,  he  took  up  his  pen  and  commenced 
writing  the  order.  While  he  was  writing  the  poor 
woman  stood  by  his  side,  the  tears  running  down 
her  face,  and  passed  her  hand  softly  over  his  head, 
stroking  his  rough  hair,  as  I have  seen  a fond  mother 
caress  a son.  By  the  time  he  had  finished  writing, 
his  own  heart  and  eyes  were  full.  He  handed  her 
the  paper  : ‘ Now,’  said  he,  ‘ you  have  one  and  I one 
of  the  other  two  left : that  is  no  more  than  right.’ 
She  took  the  paper,  and  reverently  placing  her  hand 
again  upon  his  head,  the  tears  still  upon  her  cheeks, 
said  : ‘ The  Lord  bless  you,  Mr.  Lincoln.  May  you 
live  a thousand  years,  and  may  you  always  be  the 
head  of  this  great  nation  ! ’” 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  323 


LXXIX. 

The  Hon.  W.  H.  Herndon,  of  Springfield,  Illi- 
nois, for  more  than  twenty  years  the  law-partner  of 
Mr.  Lincoln,  delivered  an  address  in  that  city,  De- 
cember 12th,  1865,  upon  the  life  and  character  of 
the  lamented  President,  which,  for  masterly  analy- 
sis, has  scarcely  an  equal  in  the  annals  of  biograph- 
ical literature.  Quaint  and  original  in  style  and 
construction,  this  description  — an  imperfect  ab- 
stract of  which  I subjoin  — is  in  singular  harmony 
with  the  character  it  depicts.  To  those  who  knew 
Mr.  Lincoln  personally,  so  thorough  a dissection  of 
his  nature  and  traits  will  need  no  indorsement ; 
while  to  the  multitude  who  knew  him  not,  it  may 
be  commended  as  probably  more  complete  and  ex- 
haustive in  its  treatment  of  the  subject,  than  any- 
thing which  has  been  given  to  the  world. 

“ Abraham  Lincoln  was  born  in  Hardin  County, 
Kentucky,  February  12th,  1809.  He  moved  to 
Indiana  in  1816  ; came  to  Illinois  in  March,  1830 ; 
to  old  Sangamon  County  in  1831,  settling  in  New 
Salem,  and  from  this  last  place  to  this  city  in  April, 
1837  : coming  as  a rude,  uncultivated  boy,  without 
polish  or  education,  and  having  no  friends.  He 

was  about  six  feet  four  inches  high,  and  when  he 

— — * — ■ — - . _ - _ . © 7 

left  this  city  was  fifty-one  years  old,  having  good 
health  and  no  gray  hairs,  or  but  few  on  his  head. 
He  was  thin,  wiry,  sinewy,  raw-boned  ; thin  through 
the  breast  to  the  back,  and  narrow  across  the  shoul- 


824  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


ders  ; standing,  lie  leaned  forward  — was  what  may 
be  called  stoop-shouldered,  inclining  to  the  consump- 
tive by  build.  His  usual  weight  was  one  hundred 
and  sixty  pounds.  His  organization  — rather  his 
structure  and  functions  — worked  slowly.  His  blood 
had  to  run  a long  distance  from  his  heart  to  the  ex- 
tremities of  his  frame,  and  his  nerve-force  had  to 
travel  through  dry  ground  a long  distance  before  his 
muscles  were  obedient  to  his  will.  His  structure 
was  loose  and  leathery ; his  body  was  shrunk  and 
shrivelled,  having  dark  skin,  dark  hair,  — looking 
woe-struck.  The  whole  man,  body  and  mind, 
worked  slowly,  creakingly,  as  if  it  needed  oiling. 
Physically,  he  was  a very  powerful  man,  lifting 
with  ease  four  hundred  or  six  hundred  pounds.  His 
mind  was  like  his  body,  and  worked  slowly  but 
strongly.  When  he  walked,  he  moved  cautiously 
but  firmly,  his  long  arms  and  hands  on  them,  hang- 
ing like  giant’s  hands,  swung  down  by  his  side.  He 
walked  with  even  tread,  the  inner  sides  of  his  feet 
being  parallel.  He  put  the  whole  foot  flat  down  on 
the  ground  at  once,  not  landing  on  the  heel  ; he  like- 
wise lifted  his  foot  all  at  once,  not  rising  from  the 
toe,  and  hence  he  had  no  spring  to  his  walk.  He 
had  economy  of  fall  and  lift  of  foot,  though  he  had 
no  spring  or  apparent  ease  of  motion  in  his  tread. 
He  walked  undulatory,  up  and  down,  catching  and 
pocketing  tire,  weariness,  and  pain,  all  up  and  down 
his  person,  preventing  them  from  locating.  The 
first  opinion  of  a stranger,  or  a man  who  did  not 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE'  HOUSE. 


32' 


observe  closely,  was  that  his  walk  implied  shrewd- 
ness, cunning,  — a tricky  man  ; but  his  was  the 
walk  of  caution  and  firmness.  In  sitting  down  on 
a common  chair  he  was  no  taller  than  ordinary  men. 
His  legs  and  arms  were,  abnormally,  unnaturally 
long,  an:l  in  undue  proportion  to  the  balance  of  his 
body.  It  was  only  when  he  stood  up  that  he  loomed 
above  other  men. 

“ Mr.  Lincoln’s  head  was  long  and  tall  from  the 
base  of  the  brain  and  from  the  eyebrows.  His 
head  ran  backwards,  his  forehead  rising  as  it  ran 
back  at  a low  angle,  like  Clay’s,  and,  unlike  Web- 
ster’s, almost  perpendicular.  The  size  of  his  hat, 
measured  at  the  hatter’s  block,  was  7|,  his  head 
being,  from  ear  to  ear,  inches,  and  from  the  front 
to  the  back  of  the  brain  8 inches.  Thus  measured, 
it  was  not  below  the  medium  size.  His  forehead 
was  narrow  but  high  ; his  hair  was  dark,  almost 
black,  and  lay  floating  where  his  fingers  or  the 
winds  left  it,  piled  up  at  random.  His  cheek-bones 
were  high,  sharp,  and  prominent  ; his  eyebrows 
heavy  and  prominent ; his  jaws  wei'e  long,  up- 
curved,  and  heavy  ; his  nose  was  large,  long,  and 
blunt,  a little  awry  towards  the  right  eye ; his 
chin  was  long,  sharp,  and  upeurved ; his  eyebrows 
cropped  out  like  a huge  rock  oh  the  brow  of  a hill ; 
his  face  was  long,  sallow,  and  cadaverous,  shrunk, 
shrivelled,  wrinkled,  and  dry,  having  here  and  there 
a hair  on  the  surface  ; his  cheeks  were  leathery  ; 
his  ears  were  large,  and  ran  out  almost  at  right  an- 


326 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


gles  from  his  head,  caused  partly  by  heavy  hats  and 
partly  by  nature  ; his  lower  lip  was  thick,  hanging, 
and  undercurved,  while  his  chin  reached  for  the  lip 
upcurved : his  neck  was  neat  and  trim,  his  head 
being  well  balanced  on  it ; there  was  the  lone  mole 
on  the  right  cheek,  and  Adam’s  apple  on  his  throat. 

“ Thus  stood,  walked,  acted,  and  looked  Abraham 
Lincoln.  He  was  not  a pretty  man  by  any  means, 
nor  was  he  an  ugly  one  ; he  was  a homely  man, 
careless  of  his  looks,  plain-looking  and  plain-acting. 
He  had  no  pomp,  display,  or  dignity,  so-called.  He 
appeared  simple  in  his  carriage  and  bearing.  He 
was  a sad-looking  man  ; his  melancholy  dripped 
from  him  as  he  walked.  His  apparent  gloom  im- 
pressed his  friends,  and  created  a sympathy  for  him, 
— one  means  of  his  great  success.  He  was  gloomy, 
abstracted,  and  joyous,  — rather  humorous,  — by 
turns.  I do  not  think  he  knew  what  real  joy  was 
for  many  years. 

“ Mr.  Lincoln  sometimes  walked  our  streets 
cheerily,  — good  - humoredly,  perhaps  joyously,  — 
and  then  it  was,  on  meeting  a friend,  he  cried  4 How 
d’  y ? ’ clasping  one  of  his  friend’s  hands  in  both  of 
his,  giving  a good  hearty  soul-welcome.  Of  a win- 
ter’s morning,  he  might  be  seen  stalking  and  stilt- 
ing it  towards  the  market-house,  basket  on  arm,  his 
old  gray  shawl  wrapped  around  his  neck,  his  little 
Willie  or  Tad  running  along  at  his  heels,  asking  a 
thousand  little  quick  questions,  which  his  father 
heard  not,  not  even  then  knowing  that  little  Willie 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  327 


or  Tad  was  there,  so  abstracted  was  he.  When  he 
thus  met  a friend,  he  said  that  something  put  him 
in  mind  of  a story  which  he  heard  in  Indiana  or 
elsewhere,  and  tell  it  he  would,  and  there  w’as  no 
alternative  but  to  listen. 

. “ Thus,  I say,  stood  and  walked  and  looked  this 
singular  man.  He  was  odd,  but  when  that  gray 
eye  and  face  and  every  feature  were  lit  up  by  the 
inward  soul  in  fires  of  emotion,  then  it  was  that  all 
these  apparently  ugly  features  sprang  into  organs 
of  beauty,  or  sunk  themselves  into  a sea  of  inspira- 
tion that  sometimes  flooded  his  face.  Sometimes  it 
appeared  to  me  that  Lincoln’s  soul  was  just  fresh 
from  the  presence  of  its  Creator. 

“ I have  asked  the  friends  and  foes  of  Mr.  Lin- 
coln alike,  what  they  thought  of  his  perceptions. 
One  gentleman  of  undoubted  ability  and  free  from 
all  partiality  or  prejudice,  said,  ‘ Mr.  Lincoln’s  per- 
ceptions are  slow,  a little  perverted,  if  not  some- 
what distorted  and  diseased.’  If  the  meaning  of 
this  is  that  Mr.  Lincoln  saw  things  from  a peculiar 
angle  of  his  being,  and  from  this  was  susceptible  to 
Nature’s  impulses,  and  that  he  so  expressed  him- 
self, then  I have  no  objection  to  what  is  said.  Other- 
wise, I dissent.  Mr.  Lincoln’s  pei’ceptions  were 
slow,  cold,  precise,  and  exact.  Everything  came  to 
him  in  its  precise  shape  and  color.  To  some  men 
the  world  of  matter  and  of  man  comes  ornamented 
with  beauty,  life,  and  action,  and  hence  more  or  less 


8J8 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


false  and  inexact.  No  lurking  illusion  or  other 
error,  false  in  itself,  and  clad  for  the  moment  in 
robes  of  splendor,  ever  passed  undetected  or  un- 
challenged over  the  threshold  of  his  mind, — that 
point  that  divides  vision  from  the  realm  and  home 
of  thought.  Names  to  him  were  nothing,  and  titles 
naught, — assumption  always  standing  back  abashed 
at  his  cold,  intellectual  glare.  Neither  his  percep- 
tions nor  intellectual  vision  were  perverted,  distorted, 
or  diseased.  He  saw  all  things  through  a perfect 
mental  lens.  There  was  no  diffraction  or  refraction 
there.  He  was  not  impulsive,  fanciful,  or  imagina- 
tive, but  cold,  calm,  precise,  and  exact.  He  threw 
his  whole  mental  light  around  the  object,  and  in 
time,  substance,  and  quality  stood  apart ; form  and 
color  took  their  appropriate  places,  and  all  was  clear 
and  exact  in  his  mind.  His  fault,  if  any,  was  that 
he  saw  things  less  than  they  really  were  ; less  beau- 
tiful and  more  frigid.  In  his  mental  view  he  crushed 
the  unreal,  the  inexact,  the  hollow,  and  the  sham. 
He  saw  things  in  rigidity  rather  than  in  vital  action. 
Here  was  his  fault.  He  saw  what  no  man  could 
dispute  ; but  he  failed  to  see  what  might  have  been 
seen.  To  some  minds  the  world  is  all  life,  a soul 
beneath  the  material  ; but  to  Mr.  Lincoln  no  life 
was  individual  or  universal  that  did  not  manifest  it- 
self to  him.  His  mind  was  his  standard.  His  per- 
ceptions were  cool,  persistent,  pitiless  in  pursuit  of 
the  truth.  No  error  went  undetected,  and  no  false- 
hood unexposed,  if  he  once  was  aroused  in  search 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  320 


of  truth.  If  his  perceptions  were  perverted,  dis- 
torted, and  diseased,  would  to  Heaven  that  more 
minds  were  so. 

“ The  true  peculiarity  of  Mr.  Lincoln  has  not  been 
seen  by  his  various  biographers ; or,  if  seen,  they 
have  failed  wofully  to  give  it  that  prominence  which 
it  deserves.  It  is  said  that  Newton  saw  an  apple 
fall  to  the  ground  from  a tree,  and  beheld  the  law 
of  the  universe  in  that  fall ; Shakspeare  saw  human 
nature  in  the  laugh  of  a man  ; Professor  Owen  Saw 
the  animal  in  its  claw  ; and  Spencer  saw  the  evolu- 
tion of  the  universe  in  the  growth  of  a seed.  Na- 
ture was  suggestive  to  all  these  men.  Mr.  Lincoln 
no  less  saw  philosophy  in  a story,  and  a schoolmas- 
ter in  a joke.  No  man,  no  men,  saw  nature,  fact, 
thing,  or  man  from  his  stand-point.  His  was  a new 
and  original  position,  which  was  always  suggesting, 
hinting  something  to  him.  Nature,  insinuations, 
hints,  and  suggestions  were  new,  fresh,  original,  and 
odd  to  him.  The  world,  fact,  man,  principle,  all 
had  their  powers  of  suggestion  to  his  susceptible 
soul.  They  continually  put  him  in  mind  of  some- 
thing. He  was  odd,  fresh,  new,  original,  and  pe* 
culiar  for  this  reason,  that  lie  was  a new,  odd,  and 
original  creation  and  fact.  He  had  keen  suscepti- 
bilities to  the  hints  and  suggestions  of  nature,  which 
always  put  him  in  mind  of  something  known  or 
mknown.  Hence-  his  power  and  tenacity  ot  what 
is  called  association  of  ideas  must  have  been  great. 


330 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


His  memory  was  tenacious  and  strong.  His  sus- 
ceptibility to  all  suggestions  and  hints  enabled  him 
at  will  to  call  up  readily  the  associated  and  classified 
fact  and  idea. 

“As  an  evidence  of  this,  especially  peculiar  to  Mr. 
Lincoln,  let  me  ask  one  question.  Were  Mr.  Lin- 
coln’s expression  and  language  odd  and  original, 
standing  out  peculiar  from  those  of  all  other  men  ? 
What  does  this  imply  ? Oddity  and  originality  of 
vision  as  well  as  expression  ; and  what  is  expression 
in  words  and  human  language,  but  a telling  of  what 
we  see,  defining  the  idea  arising  from  and  created 
by  vision  and  view  in  us.  Words  and  language 
are  but  the  counterparts  of  the  idea,  — the  other 
half  of  the  idea  ; they  are  but  the  stinging,  hot, 
heavy,  leaden  bullets  that  drop  from  the  mould ; 
and  what  are  they  in  a rifle  with  powder  stuffed 
behind  them  and  fire  applied,  but  an  embodied  force 
pursuing  their  object.  So  are  words  an  embodied 
power  feeling  for  comprehension  in  other  minds. 
Mr.  Lincoln  was  often  perplexed  to  give  expression 
to  his  ideas  : first,  because  he  was  not  master  of 
the  English  language  ; and,  secondly,  because  there 
were  no  words  in  it  containing  the  coloring,  shape, 
exactness,  power,  and  gravity  of  his  ideas.  He 
was  frequently  at  a loss  for  a word,  and  hence  was 
compelled  to  resort  to  stories,  maxims,  and  jokes  to 
embody  his  idea,  that  it  might  be  comprehended. 
So  true  was  this  peculiar  mental  vision  of  his,  that 
though  mankind  has  been  gathering,  arranging,  and 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  331 


classifying  facts  for  thousands  of  years,  Lincoln’s 
peculiar  stand-point  could  give  him  no  advantage 
of  other  men’s  labor.  Hence  he  tore  up  to  the 
deep  foundations  all  arrangements  of  facts,  and 
coined  and  arranged  new  plans  to  govern  himself. 
He  was  compelled,  from  his  peculiar  mental  organi- 
zation, to  do  this.  His  labor  was  great,  continuous, 
patient,  and  all-enduring. 

The  truth  about  this  whole  matter  is  that  Mr. 
Lincoln  read  less  and  thought  more  than  any  man 
in  his  sphere  in  America.  No  man  can  put  his 
finger  on  any  great  book  written  in  the  last  or  pres- 
ent century  that  he  read.  When  young  he  read 
the  Bible,  and  when  of  age  he  read  Shakspeare. 
This  latter  book  was  scarcely  ever  out  of  his  mind. 
Mr.  Lincoln  is  acknowledged  to  have  been  a great 
man,  but  the  question  is  what  made  him  great.  I 
repeat,  that  he  read  less  and  thought  more  than  any 
man  of  his  standing  in  America,  if  not  in  the  world. 
He  possessed  originality  and  power  of  thought  in 
an  eminent  degree.  He  was  cautious,  cool,  con- 
centrated, with  continuity  of  reflection  ; was  patient 
and  enduring.  These  are  some  of  the  grounds  of 
his  wonderful  success. 

“Not  only  was  nature,  man,  fact,  and  principle 
suggestive  to  Mr.  Lincoln,  not  only  had  he  accurate 
and  exact  perceptions,  but  he  was  causative,  i.  e., 
his  mind  ran  back  behind  all  facts,  things,  and  prin- 
ciples to  their  origin,  history,  and  first  cause, — tc 
that  point  where  forces  act  at  once  as  effect  and 


332  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


cause.  He  would  stop  and  stand  in  the  street  and 
analyze  a machine.  He  would  whittle  things  to 
a point,  and  then  count  the  numberless  inclined 
planes,  and  their  pitch,  making  the  point.  Mas- 
tering and  defining  this,  he  would  then  cut  that 
point  back,  and  get  a broad  transverse  section  of 
his  pine  stick,  and  peel  and  define  that.  Clocks, 
omnibuses,  and  language,  paddle-wheels,  and  idioms, 
never  escaped  his  observation  and  analysis.  Before 
he  could  form  any  idea  of  anything,  before  he  would 
express  his  opinion  on  any  subject,  he  must  know 
it  in  origin  and  history,  in  substance  and  quality,  in 
magnitude  and  gravity.  He  must  know  his  subject 
inside  and  outside,  upside  and  downside.  He 
searched  his  own  mind  and  nature  thoroughly,  as  I 
have  often  heard  him  say.  He  must  analyze  a sen- 
sation, an  idea,  and  words,  and  ran  them  back  to 
their  origin,  history,  purpose,  and  destiny.  He  was 
most  emphatically  a remorseless  analyzer  of  facts, 
things,  and  principles.  When  all  these  processes 
had  been  well  and  thoroughly  gone  through,  he 
could  form  an  opinion  and  express  it,  but  no  sooner. 
He  had  no  faith.  ‘ Say  so’s  ’ he  had  no  respect  for, 
coming  though  they  might  from  tradition,  power,  or 
authority. 

“ All  things,  facts,  and  principles  had  to  run 
through  his  crucible  and  be  tested  by  the  fires  of  his 
analytic  mind  ; and  hence,  when  he  did  speak  his 
utterances  rang  out  gold-like,  quick,  keen,  and  cur- 
rent  upon  the  counters  of  the  understanding.  H6 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  333 


reasoned  logically,  through  analogy  and  comparison. 
All  opponents  dreaded  him  in  his  originality  of  idea, 
condensation,  definition,  and  force  of  expression,  and 
woe  be  to  the  man  who  hugged  to  his  bosom  a 
secret  error  if  Mr.  Lincoln  got  on  the  chase  of  it. 
I say,  woe  to  him  ! Time  could  hide  the  error  in 
no  nook  or  corner  of  space  in  which  he  would  not 
detect  and  expose  it. 

“ Though  Mr.  Lincoln  had  accurate  perceptions, 
though  nature  was  extremely  suggestive  to  him, 
though  he  was  a profound  thinker  as  well  as  ana- 
lyzer, still  his  judgments  and  opinions  formed  upon 
minor  matters  were  often  childish.  I have  some- 
times asked  prominent,  talented,  and  honest  men 
in  this  and  other  States  for  their  manly  opinion  of 
Mr.  Lincoln’s  judgments.  I did  this  to  confirm  or 
overthrow  my  own  opinions  on  this  point.  Their 
answers  were  that  his  judgments  were  poor.  But 
now  what  do  we  understand  by  the  word  ‘judg- 
ments ? ’ It  is  not  reason,  it  is  not  will,  nor  is  it 
understanding  ; but  it  is  the  judging  faculty,  — that 
capacity  or  power  that  forms  opinions  and  decides 
on  the  fitness,  beauty,  harmony,  and  appropriateness 
of  things  under  all  circumstances  and  surroundings, 
quickly,  wisely,  accurately.  Had  Mr.  Lincoln  this 
quality  of  mind  ? I think  not.  His  mind  was  like 
nis  body,  and  worked  slowly. 

“ One  portion  of  mankind  maintained  that  Mr. 


334  SIX  MONTHS  _AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

Lincoln  was  weak-minded,  and  they  look  at  him 
only  from  the  stand-point  of  his  judgments.  An- 
other class  maintain  that  he  was  a great,  deep,  pro- 
found man  in  his  judgments.  Do  these  two  classes 
understand  themselves  ? Both  views  .cannot  be 
correct.  Mr.  Lincoln’s  mind  was  slow,  angular,  and 
ponderous,  rather  than  quick  and  finely  discriminat- 
ing, and  in  time  his  great  powers  of  reason  on  cause 
and  effect,  on  creation  and  relation,  on  substance 
and  on  truth,  would  form  a proposition,  an  opinion 
wisely  and  well,  — that  no  human  being  can  deny. 
When  his  mind  could  not  grasp  premises  from 
which  to  argue  he  was  weaker  than  a child,  be- 
cause he  had  none  of  the  child’s  intuitions,  — the 
soul’s  quick,  bright  flash  over  scattered  and  unar- 
ranged facts. 

“ Mr.  Lincoln  was  a peculiar  man,  having  a pe- 
culiar mind  ; he  was  gifted  with  a peculiarity, 
namely,  a.  new  lookout  on  nature.  Everything  had 
to  be  newly  created  for  him,  — facts  newly  gath- 
ered, newly  arranged,  and  newly  classed.  He  had 
no  faith,  as  already  expressed.  In  order  to  believe 
he  must  see  and  feel,  and  thrust  his  hand  into  the 
place.  He  must  taste,  smell,  and  handle  before  he 
had  faith,  i.  e.,  belief.  Such  a mind  as  this  must 
act  slowty,  — must  have  its  time.  His  forte  and 
power  lay  in  his  love  of  digging  out  for  himself  and 
hunting  up  for  his  own  mind  its  own  food,  to  be 
assimilatexl  unto  itself ; and  then  in  time  he  could 
* and  would  form  opinions  and  conclusions  that  no 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


human  power  could  overthrow.  They  were  as 
irresistible  as  iron  thunder,  as  powerful  as  logic 
embodied  in  mathematics. 

“ I have  watched  men  closely  in  reference  to 
their  approaches  to  Mr.  Lincoln.  Those  who  ap- 
proached  him  on  his  judgment  side  treated  him  ten- 
derly — sometimes  respectfully,  but  always  as  a 
weak-minded  man.  This  class  of  men  take  the 
judgment  as  the  standard  of  the  mind.  I have 
seen  another  class  approach  him  on  his  reason-side, 
and  they  always  crouched  low  down  and  truckled, 
as  much  as  to  say,  ‘great,’  ‘grand,’  ‘omnipotent.’ 
Both  these  classes  were  correct.  One  took  judgment 
as  the  standard  of  the  man,  and  the  other  took  rea- 
son. Yet  both  classes  were  wrong  in  this,  — they 
sunk  out  of  view  one  side  of  Mr.  Lincoln.  A third 
class  knew  him  we#l,  and  always  treated  him  with 
human  respect : not  that  awe  and  reverence  with 
which  we  regard  the  Supreme  Being ; not  that 
supercilious  haughtiness  which  greatness  shows  to 
littleness.  Each  will  please  to  examine  itself,  and 
then  judge  of  what  I say.  I have  approached  Mr. 
Lincoln  on  all  sides,  and  treated  him  according  to 
the  angle  approached. 

“ An  additional  question  naturally  suggests  itself 
here,  and  it  is  this  : Had  Mr.  Lincoln  great,  good 
common  sense  ? Different  persons,  of  equal  capac- 
ity and  honesty,  hold  different  views  on  this  ques- 
tion,— one  class  answering  in  the  affirmative,  and 
the  other  in  the  negative. 


336  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

These  various  opinions  necessarily  spring  out  of 
the  question  just  discussed.  If  the  true  test  is  that 
a man  shall  quickly,  wisely,  and  well  judge  the  rapid 
rush  and  whirl  of  human  transactions,  as  accurately 
as  though  indefinite  time  and  proper  conditions  were 
at  his  disposal,  then  I am  compelled  -fo  follow  the 
logic  of  things,  and  say  that  Mr.  Lincoln  had  no 
more  than  ordinary  common  sense.  The  world, 
men  and  their  actions,  must  be  judged  as  they  rush 
and  pass  along.  They  will  not  wait  on  us  ; will  not 
stay  for  our  logic  and  analysis  ; they  must  be  seized 
as  they  run.  We  all  our  life  act  on  the  moment. 
Mr.  Lincoln  knew  himself,  and  never  trusted  his 
dollar  or  his  fame  on  his  casual  opinions ; he  never 
acted  hastily  on  great  matters. 

“ Mr.  Lincoln  very  well  knew  that  the  great  lead- 
ing law  of  human  nature  was  motive.  He  reasoned 
all  ideas  of  a disinterested  action  from  my  mind.  I 
used  to  hold  that  an  action  could  be  pure,  disinter- 
ested, and  holy,  free  from  all  selfishness,  but  he  di- 
vested me  of  that  delusion.  His  idea  was  that  all 
human  actions  were  caused  by  motives , and  that  at 
the  bottom  of  those  motives  was  self.  He  defied  me 
to  act  without  a motive  and  unselfishly ; and  when 
I did  the  act  and  told  him  of  it,  he  analyzed  and 
sifted  it,  and  demonstrated  beyond  the  possibility  of 
controvei’sy  that  it  was  altogether  selfish.  Though 
he  was  a profound  analyzer  of  the  laws  of  human 
nature,  still  he  had  no  idea  of  the  peculiar  motives 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  3B7 


of  the  particular  individual.  He  could  not  well 
discriminate  in  human  nature.  He.  knew  but  little 
of  the  play  of  the  features  as  seen  in  ‘ the  human 
face  divine.’  He  could  not  distinguish  between  the 
paleness  of  anger  and  the  crimson  tint  of  modesty. 
He  could  not  determine  what  each  play  of  the  feat- 
ures indicated. 


“ The  great  predominating  elements  of  Mr.  Lin- 
coln’s peculiar  character,  were  : First,  his  great  ca- 
pacity an&qoower  of  reason  ; secondly,  his  excellent 
understanding : thirdly,  an  exalted  idea  of  the  sense 
of  right  and  equity  ; and,  fourthly,  his  intense  ven- 
eration of  what  was  true  and  good.  His  reason 
ruled  despotically  all  other  faculties  and  qualities  of 
his  mind.  His  conscience  and  heart  were  ruled 
by  it.  His  conscience  was  ruled  by  one  faculty  — 
reason.  His  heart  was  ruled  by  two  faculties  — 
reason  and  conscience.  I know  it  is  generally 
believed  that  Mr.  Lincoln’s  heart,  his  love  and 
kindness,  his  tenderness  and  benevolence,  were  his 
ruling  qualities  ; but  this  opinion  is  erroneous  in 
every  particular.  First,  as  to  his  reason.  He  dwelt 
in  the  mind,  not  in  the  conscience,  and  not  in  the 
heart.  He  lived  and  breathed  and  acted  from 
his  reason, — the  throne  of  loo-ic  and  the  home  of 
principle,  the  realm  of  Deity  in  man.  It  is  from 
this  point  that  Mr.  Lincoln  must  be  viewed.  His 
views  were  correct  and  original.  He  was  cautious 
not  to  be  deceived  ; he  was  patient  and  endur- 
22 


338  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


ing.  He  had  concentration  and  great  continuity  of 
thought ; he  had  a profound  analytic  power  ; his 
visions  were  clear,  and  he  was  emphatically  the  mas- 
ter of  statement.  His  pursuit  of  the  truth  was  in- 
defatigable, terrible.  He  reasoned  from  his  well- 
chosen  principles  with  such  clearness,  force,  and 
compactness,  that  the  tallest  intellects  in  the  land 
bowed  to  him  with  respect.  He  was  the  strongest 
man  I ever  saw,  looking  at  him  from  the  stand-point 
of  his  reason,  — the  throne  of  his  logic.  He  came 
down  from  that  height  with  an  irresistible  and  crush- 
ing force.  His  printed  speeches  will  prove  this  ; but 
his  speeches  before  courts,  especially  before  the  Su- 
preme Courts  of  the  State  and  Nation,  would  de- 
monstrate it : unfortunately  none  of  them  have  been 
preserved.  Here  he  demanded  time  to  think  and 
prepare.  The  office  of  reason  is  to  determine  the 
truth.  Truth  is  the  power  of  reason  — the  child 
of  reason.  He  loved  and  idolized  truth  for  its  own 
sake.  It  was  reason’s  food. 

“ Conscience,  the  second  great  quality  and  forte 
of  Mr.  Lincoln’s  character,  is  that  faculty  which 
loves  the  just:  its  office  is  justice  ; right  and  equity 
are  its  correlatives.  It  decides  upon  all  acts  of  all 
people  at  all  times.  Mr.  Lincoln  had  a deep,  broad, 
living  conscience.  His  great  reason  told  him  what 
was  true,  good,  and  bad,  right,  wrong,  just  or  un- 
just, and  his  conscience  echoed  back  its  decision  ; 
and  it  was  from  this  point  that  he  acted  and  spoke 
and  wove  his  character  and  fame  among  us.  His 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  3 29 

conscience  ruled  his  heart ; he  was  always  just  be- 
fore he  was  gracious.  This  was  his  motto,  his  glory : 
and  this  is  as  it  should  be.  It  cannot  be  truthfully 
said  of  any  mortal  man  that  he  was  always  just. 
Mr.  Lincoln  was  not  always  just ; but  his  great  gen- 
eral life  was.  It  follows  that  if  Mr.  Lincoln  had 
great  reason  and  great  conscience,  he  was  an  hon- 
est man.  His  great  and  general  life  was  honest, 
and  he  was  justly  and  rightfully  entitled  to  the  ap- 
pellation, ‘ Honest  Abe.’  Honesty  was  his  great 
polar  star. 

“ Mr.  Lincoln  had  also  a good  understanding ; 
that  is,  the  faculty  that  understands  and  compre- 
hends the  exact  state  of  things,  their  near  and  re- 
mote relation.  The  understanding  does  not  neces- 
sarily inquire  for  the  reason  of  things.  I must  here 
repeat  that  Mr.  Lincoln  was  an  odd  and  original 
man  ; he  lived  by  himself  and  out  of  himself.  He 
could  not  absorb.  He  was  a very  sensitive  man, 
unobtrusive  and  gentlemanly,  and  often  hid  himself 
in  the  common  mass  of  men,  in  order  to  prevent 
the  discovery  of  his  individuality.  He  had  no  in- 
sulting egotism,  and  no  pompous  pride ; no  haughti- 
ness, and  no  aristocracy.  He  was  not  indifferent, 
however,  to  approbation  and  public  opinion.  He 
was  not  an  upstart,  and  had  no  insolence.  He 
was  a meek,  quiet,  unobtrusive  gentleman.  These 
qualities  of  his  nature  merged  somewhat  his  iden- 
tities. Read  Mr.  Lincoln’s  speeches,  letters,  mes- 
sages, and  proclamations,  read  his  whole  record  in 


040  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUS^ 

his  actual  life,  and  you  cannot  fail  to  perceive  that 
he  had  good  understanding.  He  understood  and 
fully  comprehended  himself,  and- what  he  did  and 
why  he  did  it,  better  than  most  living  men. 

“ There  are  contradictory  opinions  in  reference  to 
Mr.  Lincoln’s  heart  and  humanity.  One  opinion  is 
that  he  was  cold  and  obdurate,  and  the  other  opin- 
ion is  that  he  was  warm  and  affectionate.  I have 
shown  you  that  Mr.  Lincoln  first  lived  and  breathed 
upon  the  world  from  his  head  and  conscience.  I have 
attempted  to  show  you  that  he  lived  and  breathed 
upon  the  world  through  the  tender  side  of  his  heart, 
subject  at  all  times  and  places  to  the  logic  of  his 
reason,  and  to  his  exalted  sense  of  right  and  equity, 
namely,  his  conscience.  He  always  held  his  con- 
science subject  to  his  head  ; he  held  his  heart  always 
subject  to  his  head  and  conscience.  His  heart  was 
the  lowest  organ,  the  weakest  of  the  three.  Some 
men  would  reverse  this  order,  and  declare  that  his 
heart  was  his  ruling  organ ; that  always  manifested 
itself  with  love,  regardless  of  truth  and  justice, 
right  and  equity.  The  question  still  is,  was  Mr. 
Lincoln  a cold,  heartless  man,  or  a warm,  affection- 
ate man  ? Can  a man  be  a warm-hearted  man  who 
is  all  head  and  conscience,  or  nearly  so  ? What,  in 
the  first  place,  do  we  mean  by  a warm-hearted  man  ? 
Is  it  one  who  goes  out  of  himself  and  reaches  for 
others  spontaneously,  because  of  a deep  love  of  hu- 
manity, apart  from  equity  and  truth,  and  does  what 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  341 

r 

it  does  for  love’s  sake  ? If  so,  Mr.  Lincoln  was  a 
cold  man.  Or,  do  we  mean  that  when  a human 
being,  man  or  child,  approached  him  in  behalf 
of  a matter  of  right,  and  that  the  prayer  of  such 
an  one  was  granted,  that  this  is  an  evidence  of 
his  love?  The  African  was  enslaved,  his  rights 
were  violated,  and  a principle  was  violated  in  them. 
Rights  imply  obligations  as  well  as  duties.  Mr. 
Lincoln  was  President ; he  was  in  a position  that 
made  it  his  duty  through  his  sense  of  right,  his 
love  of  principle,  his  constitutional  obligations  im- 
posed upon  him  by  oath  of  office,  to  strike  the  blow 
against  slavery.  But  did  he  do  it  for  love  ? He 
himself  has  answered  the  question  : ‘ I would  not 
free  the  slaves  if  I could  preserve  the  Union  with- 
out it.’  I use  this  argument  against  his  too  enthu- 
siastic friends.  If  you  mean  that  this  is  love  for 
love’s  sake,  then  Mr.  Lincoln  was  a warm-hearted 
man  — not  otherwise.  To  use  a general  expres- 
sion, his  general  life  was  cold.  He  had,  however, 
a strong  latent  capacity  to  love  ; but  the  object  must 
first  come  as  principle,  second  as  right,  and  third  as 
lovely.  He  loved  abstract  humanity  when  it  was 
oppressed.  This  was  an  abstract  love,  not  concrete 
in  the  individual,  as  said  by  some.  He  rarely  used 
the  term  love,  yet  was  he  tender  and  gentle.  He 
gave  the  key-note  to  his  own  character,  when  he 
said,  ‘ with  malice  toward  none,  and  with  charity  for 
all,’  he  did  what  he  did.  He  had  no  intense  loves, 
and  hence  no  hates  and  no  malice.  He  had  a broad 


342  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

« 

charity  for  imperfect  man,  and  let  us  imitate  his 
great  life  in  this. 

“ ‘ But  was  not  Mr.  Lincoln  a man  of  great 
humanity?’  asks  a friend  at  my  elbow,  a little 
angrily ; to  which  I reply,  4 Has  not  that  question 
been  answered  already  ? ’ Let  us  suppose  that  it 
has  not.  We  must  understand  each  other.  What 
do  you  mean  by  humanity  ? Do  you  mean  that  he 
had  much  of  human  nature  in  him  ? If  so,  I will 
grant  that  he  was  a man  of  humanity.  Do  you 
mean,  if  the  above  definition  is  unsatisfactory,  that 
Mr.  Lincoln  was  tender  and  kind  ? Then  I agree 
with  you.  But  if  you  mean  to  say  that  he  so  loved 
a man  that  he  would  sacrifice  truth  and-  right  for 
him,  for  love’s  sake,  then  he  was  not  a man  of 
humanity.  Do  you  mean  to  say  that  he  so  loved 
man,  for  love’s  sake,  that  his  heart  led  him  out  of 
himself,  and  compelled  him  to  go  in  search  of  the 
objects  of  his  love,  for  their  sake  ? He  never,  to 
my  knowledge,  manifested  this  side  of  his  character. 
Such  is  the  law  of  human  nature,  that  it  cannot  be 
all  iiead,  all  conscience,  and  all  heart  at  one  and  the 
same  time  in  one  and  the  same  person.  Our  Maker 
made  it  so,  and  where  God  through  reason  blazed 
the  path,  walk  therein  boldly.  Mr.  Lincoln’s  glory 
and  power  lay  in  the  just  combination  of  head, 
conscience,  and  heart,  and  it  is  here  that  his  fame 
must  rest,  or  not  at  all. 

44  Not  only  were  Mr.  Lincoln’s  perceptions  good  ; 
not  only  was  nature  suggestive  to  him  ; not  only 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  343 


was  he  original  and  strong^;  not  only  had  he  great 
reason,  good  understanding ; not  only  did  he  love 
the  true  and  good  — the  eternal  right  ; not  only  was 
he  tender  and  kind, — but,  in  due  proportion  and 
in  legitimate  subordination,  had  he  a glorious  com- 
bination of  them  all.  Through  his  perceptions,  — 
the  suggestiveness  of  nature,  his  originality  and 
strength  ; through  his  magnificent  reason,  his  un- 
derstanding, his  conscience,  his  tenderness,  and 
kindness,  his  heart,  rather  than  love,  — lie.,- approx- 
imated as.  nearly  as  most  human  beings  in  this 
imperfect  state  to  an  embodiment  of  the  great  moral 
principle,  ‘ Do  unto  others  as  ye  would  they  should  ^ 
do  unto  you.’ 


“ There  are  two  opinions  — radically  diffei’ent  opin- 
ions — expressed  about  Mr.  Lincoln’s  will,  by  men 
of  equal  and  much  capacity.  One  opinion  is,  that 
he  had  no  will ; and  the  other  is,  that  he  was  all  will 
— omnipotently  so.  These  two  opinions  are  loudly 
and  honestly  affirmed.  Mr.  Lincoln’s  mind  loved 
the  true,  the  right,  and  good,  all  the  great  truths 
and  principles  in  the  mind  of  man.  He  loved  the 
true,  first ; the  right,  second  ; and  the  good,  the 
least.  His  mind  struggled  for  truths  and  his  soul 
for  substances.  Neither  in  his  head  nor  in  his  soul 
did  he  care  for  forms,  methods,  ways,  — the  wow- 
substantial  facts  or  things.  He  could  not,  by  his 
very  structure  and  formation  in  mind  and  tody, 
care  anything  about  them.  He  did  not  intensely 


814  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


or  much  care  for  particular  individual  man,  — the 
dollar,  property,  rank,  order,  manners,  or  such  like 
things.  lie  laid  no  avarice  in  his  nature,  or  other 
like  vice.  He  despised,  somewhat,  all  technical 
rules  in  law  and  theology  and  other  sciences, — 
mere  forms  everywhere,  — because  they  were,  as 
a General  rule,  founded  on  arbitrary  thoughts  and 

cT>  7 ^ J O 

ideas,  and  not  on  reason,  truth,  right,  and  the  good. 
These  things  were  without  substance,  and  he  disre- 
garded them  because  they  cramped  his  original  na- 
ture. What  suited  a little,  narrow,  critical  mind 
did  not  suit  Mr.  Lincoln’s,  any  more  than  a child's 
clothes  did  his  body.  Generally,  Mr.  Lincoln  could 
not  take  any  interest  in  little  local  elections  — town 
meetings.  He  attended  no  gatherings  that  per- 
tained to  local  or  other  such  interests,  saving  gen- 
eral political  ones.  He  did  not  care  (because  he 
could  not,  in  his  nature)  who  succeeded  to  the  pres- 
idency of  this  or  that  Christian  Association  or  Rail- 
road Convention  ; who  made  the  most  money  ; who 
was  going  to  Philadelphia,  when  and  for  what,  and 
what  were  the  costs  of  such  a trip.  He  could  not 
care  who,  among  friends,  got  this  office  or  that  — 
who  got  to  be  street  inspector  or  alley  commis- 
sioner. No  principle  of  goodness,  of  truth,  or  right 
was  here.  How  could  he  be  moved  by  such  things 
as  these?  He  could  not  understand  why  men 
struggled  for  such  things.  He  made  this  remark  to 
nre  one  day,  I think  at  Washington,  ‘ If  ever  this 
free  people  — if  this  Government  itself  is  ever 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  345 


utterly  demoralized,  it  will  come  from  this  human 
wriggle  and  struggle  for  office  — a way  to  live  with- 
out work ; from  which  nature  I am  not  free  myself.’ 
It  puzzled  him  a good  deal,  at  Washington,  to  know 
and  to  get  at  the  root  of  this  dread  desire,  — this 
contagious  disease  of  national  robbery  in  the  nation’s 

death-struoole. 

co 

“ Because  Mr.  Lincoln  could  not  feel  any  interest 
in  such  little  things  as  I have  spoken  of,  nor  feel 
any  particular  interest  in  the  success  of  those  who 
were  thus  struggling  and  wriggling,  he  was  called 
indifferent  — nay,  ungrateful — to  his  friends.  Es- 
pecially is  this  the  case  with  men  who  have  aided 
Mr.  Lincoln  all  their  life.  Mr.  Lincoln  always  and 
everywhere  wished  his  friends  well  ; he  loved  his 
- friends  and  clung  to  them  tenaciously,  like  iron  to 
iron  welded ; yet  he  could  not  be  actively  and 
energetically  aroused  to  the  true  sense  of  his  friends’ 
particularly  strong  feelings  of  anxiety  for  office 
From  this  fact  Mr.  Lincoln  has  been  called  un- 
grateful. He  was  not  an  ungrateful  man  by  any 
means.  He  may  have  been  a cool  man  — a passive 
man  in  his  general  life  ; yet  he  was  not  ungrateful. 
Ingratitude  is  too  positive  a word  — it  does  not  con- 
vey the  truth.  Mr.  Lincoln  may  not  have  measured 
his  friendly  duties  by  the  applicant’s  hot  desire  ; I 
admit  this.  He  was  not  a selfish  man,  — if  by  self- 
ishness is  meant  that  Mr.  Lincoln  would  do  any 
act,  even  to  promote  himself  to  the  Presidency,  if 
by  that  act  any  human  being  was  wronged.  If  it 


846  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


is  said  that  Abraham  Lincoln  preferred  Abraham 
Lincoln  to  any  one  else,  in  the  pursuit  of  his  ambi- 
tions, and  that,  because  of  this,  he  was  a selfish 
man,  then  I can  see  no  objections  to  such  an  idea, 
for  this  is  universal  human  nature. 

“ It  must  be  remembered  that  Mr.  Lincoln’s  mind 
acted  logically,  cautiously,  and  slowly.  Now,  having 
stated  the  above  facts,  the  question  of  his  will  and  its 
power  is  easily  solved.  Be  it  remembered  that  Mr. 
Lincoln  cared  nothing  for  simple  facts,  manners, 
modes,  ways,  and  such  like  things.  Be  it  remem- 
bered that  he  did  care  for  truth,  right,  for  princi- 
ple, for  all  that  pertains  to  the  good.  In  relation  to 
simple  facts,  unrelated  to  substance,  forms,  rules, 
methods,  ways,  manners,  he  cared  nothing ; and  if 
he  could  be  aroused,  he  would  do  anything  for  any 
body  at  any  time,  as  well  foe  as  friend.  As  a politi- 
cian he  would  courteously  grant  all  facts  and  forms 
— all  non-essential  things  — to  his  opponent.  He 
did  so  because  he  did  not  care  for  them ; they  were 
rubbish,  husks,  trash.  On  the  question  of  substance, 
he  hung  and  clung  with  all  his  might.  On  ques- 
tions of  truth,  justice,  right,  the  good,  on  principle 
his  will  was  as  firm  as  steel  and  as  tenacious  ^s  iron. 
It  was  as  firm,  solid,  real,  vital,  and  tenacious  as  an 
idea  on  which  the  world  hinges  or  hangs.  Ask  Mr. 
Lincoln  to  do  a wrong  thing,  and  he  would  scorn 
the  request ; ask  him  to  do  an  unjust  thing,  and 
he  would  cry,  ‘ Begone  ! ’ ask  him  to  sacrifice  his 
convictions  of  the  truth,  and  his  soul  would  in- 
dignantly exclaim,  ‘ The  world  perish  first  ! ’ 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE.  347 

“ Such  was  Mr.  Lincoln’s  will.  On  manners  and 
Buck  like  things,  he  was  pliable.  On  questions  of 
right  and  substance,  he  was  as  firm  as  a rock.  One 
of  these  classes  of  men  look  at  Mr.  Lincoln  from 
the  stand-point  of  things  non-essential,  and  the  other 
looks  at  him  from  the  stand-point  of  substance,  re- 
jecting forms.  Hence  the  difference.  Mr.  Lin- 
coln ^vas  a man  of  firm,  unyielding  will,  when,  in 
human  transactions,  it  was  necessary  to  be  so,  and 
not  otherwise.  At  one  moment  Mr.  Lincoln  was 
as  pliable  and  expansive  as  gentle  air,  and  at  the 
next  moment  he  was  as  biting,  firm,  tenacious,  and 
unyielding  as  gravity  itself. 

“Thus  I have  traced  Mr.  Lincoln  through  his 
perceptions,  his  suggestiveness,  his  judgments,  and 
his  four  great  predominant  qualities,  namely,  — his 
powers  of  reason,  his  great  understanding,  his  con- 
science, and  his  heart.  I assert  that  Mr.  Lincoln 
lived  in  the  head.  He  loved  the  truth  ; he  loved 
the  eternal  right  and  the  good,  — never  yielding  the 
fundamental  conceptions  of  these  to  any  man  for 
any  end. 

“ All  the  follies  and  wrong  Mr.  Lincoln  ever  fell 
into,  or  committed,  sprang  or  came  out  of  his  weak 
points,  namely,  his  want  of  quick,  sagacious,  intu- 
itive judgment,  — his  want  of  quick,  sagacious,  in- 
tuitive knowledge  of  the  play  and  meaning  of  the 
features  of  men  as  written  on  the  face,  — his  tender- 
ness and  mercy,  and,  lastly,  his  utterly  unsuspecting 
nature.  He  was  deeply  and  seriously  honest  him- 


348 


m 


SIX  MOUTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

self,  and  assumed  that  others  were  so  organized 
He  never  suspected  men.  These,  with  other  de- 
fects of  his  nature,  caused  all  his  follies  and  wrongs, 
if  lie  ever  had  any  of  either. 

“ All  the  wise  and  good  things  Mr.  Lincoln  ever 
did,  sprang  or  came  out  of  his  great  reason,  his  con- 
science, his  understanding,  and  his  heart,  his  love 
of  truth,  right,  and  the  good.  I am  speaking,  now  * 
of  his  particular  and  individual  faculties  and  quali- 
ties, not  their  combination , nor  the  result  of  wise  or 
unwise  combinations.  Each  man  and  woman  must 
form  his  or  her  own  estimate  of  the  man  in  the 
mind.  Run  out  these  facts,  qualities,  and  faculties, 
and  see  what  they  must  produce.  For  instance,  a 
tender  heart ; a wise,  strong  reason  ; a good  under- 
standing, an  exalted  conscience,  a love  of  the  good, 
must,  in  such  combination,  practically  applied,  pro- 
duce a man  of  great  humanity. 

“ Take  another  illustration  in  the  combination  of 
his  faculties  and  qualities.  Mr.  Lincoln’s  eloquence 
lay,  1st,  in  the  strength  of  his  logical  faculty,  his 
supreme  power  of  reasoning,  his  great  understand- 
ing, and  his  love  of  principle  ; 2d,  in  his  clear,  ex- 
act, and  very  accurate  vision  ; 8d,  in  his  cool  and 
masterly  statement  of  his  principles,  around  which 
the  issues  gather ; in  the  statement  of  those  issues, 
and  the  grouping  of  the  facts  that  are  to  carry  con- 
viction, aided  by  his  logic,  to  the  minds  of  men  of 
every  grade  of  intelligence.  He  was  so  clear  that 
he  could  not  be  misunderstood  nor  misrepresented. 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


340 


He  stood  square  and  bolt  upright  to  his  convictions, 
and  formed  by  them  his  thoughts  and  utterances. 
Mr.  Lincoln's  mind  was  not  a wide%  deep,  broad, 
generalizing,  and  comprehensive  mind,  nor  versatile 
quick,  bounding  here  and  there*  as  emergencies 
demanded  it.  His  mind  was  deep,  enduring,  and 
strong,  running  in  deep  iron  grooves,  with  flanges 
•on  its  wheels.  His  mind  was  not  keen,  sharp,  and 
subtile  ; it  was  deep,  exact,  and  strong. 

“ Whatever  of  life,  vigor,  force,  and  power  of 
eloquence  the  whole  of  the  above  qualities,  or  a 
wise  combination  will  give  ; whatever  there  is  in 
a fair,  manly,  honest,  and  impartial  administration 
of  justice,  under  law,  to  all  men  at  all  times, — 
through  these  qualities  and  capabilities  given,  never 
deviating ; whatever  there  is  in  a strong  will  in 
the  right,  governed  by  tenderness  and  mercy ; 
whatever  there  is  in  toil  and  a,  sublime  patience ; 
whatever  there  is  in  particular  faculties,  or  a wise 
combination  of  them,  — not  forgetting;  his  weak 
points,  — working  wisely,  sagaciously,  and  honestly, 
openly  and  fairly  ; — I say,  whatever  there  is  in 
these,  or  a combination  of  them,  that  Mr.  Lin- 
coln is  justly  entitled  to  in  all  the  walks  of  life. 
These  limit,  bound,  and  define  him  as  statesman, 
oracor,  as  an  executive  of  the  nation,  as  a man  of 
humanity,  a good  man,  and  a gentleman.  These 
limit,  bound,  and  define  him  every  way,  in  all  the 
ways  and  walks  of  life.  He  is  under  his  law  and 
his  nature,  and  he  never  can  get  out  of  it. 


350 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


“ This  man,  this  long,  bony,  wiry,  sad  man, 
floated  into  our  county  in  1831,  in  a frail  canoe, 
down  the  north  fork  of  the  Sangamon  River,  friend- 
less, pennyless,  powerless,  and  alone,  — begging  for 
work  in  this  city, ragged,  struggling  for  the  com- 

mon necessaries  of  life.  This  man,  this  peculiar 
man,  left  us  in  1861,  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  backed  by  friends  and  power,  by  fame,  and 
all  human  force  ; and  it  is  well  to  inquire  how. 

“ To  sum  up,  let  us  say,  here  is  a sensitive,  diffi- 
dent, unobtrusive,  natural-made  gentleman.  His 
mind  was  strong  and  deep,  sincere  and  honest,  pa- 
tient and  enduring  ; having  no  vices,  and  having 
only  negative  defects,  with  many  positive  virtues. 
His  is  a strong,  honest,  sagacious,  manly,  noble  life. 
He  stands  in  the  foremost  rank  of  men  in  all  ages, 
— their  equal,  — one  of  the  best  types  of  this  Chris- 
tian civilization.” 

LXXX. 

At  the  end  of  six  months’  incessant  labor,  my  task 
at  the  White  House  drew  near  completion.  On  the 
22d  of  July,  the  President  and  Cabinet,  at  the  close 
of  the  regular  session,  adjourned  in  a body  to  the 
State  Dining-room,  to  view  the  work,  at  last  in  a 
condition  to  receive  criticism.  Sitting  in  the  midst 
of  the  group,  the  President  expressed  his  “ un- 
schooled ” opinion,  as  he  called -it,  of  the  result,  in 
terms  which  could  not  but  have  afforded  the  deep- 
est gratification  to  any  artist. 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


3.51 


The  curiosity  of  the  public  to  see  the  picture  was 
so  great  that  during  the  last  two  days  of  my  stay  in 
Washington,  by  the  kind  permission  of  the  Presi- 
dent, it  was  placed  in  the  East  Room,  and  thrown 
open  to  the  public.  During  this  time  the  house  was 
thronged  with  visitors,  the  porters  estimating  their 
number  each  day  at  several  thousands. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  second  day’s  exhibition, 
intending-  to  have  the  canvas  taken  down  and  rolled 
up  during  the  night  for  transportation  to  New  York, 
I watched  for  an  opportunity  to  say  a last  word  to 
Mr.  Lincoln  previous  to  his  leaving  for  the  Sol- 
diers’ Home,  where  the  family  were  then  staying, 
At  four  o’clock  the  carriage  drove  up  to  the  door, 
accompanied  by  the  “ Black-Horse  Cavalry  ” es- 
cort. Knowing  the  President  w’ould  soon  appear,  I 
stepped  out  under  the  portico  to  wait  for  him.  Pres- 
ently I caught  sight  of  his  unmistakable  figure  stand- 
ing hglf-way  between  the  porticd*and  the  gateway 
leading  to  the  War  Department  leaning  against  the 
iron  fence,  — one  arm  thrown  over  the  railing,  and 
one  foot  on  the  stone  coping  which  supports  it,  evi- 
dently having  been  intercepted,  on  his  way  in  from 
the  War  Department,  by  a plain-looking  man,  who 
was  giving  him,  very  diffidently,  an  account  of  a 
difficulty  which  he  had  been  unable  to  have  recti- 
fied. While  waiting,  I walked  out  leisurely  to  the 
President’s  side.  He  said  very  little  to  the  man, 
but  was  intently  studying  the  expression  of  his  face 
svhile  he  was  narrating  his  trouble.  When  he  had 


352  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


finished,  Mr.  Lincoln  said  to  him,  “ Have  you  a 
blank  card  ? ” The  man  searched  his  pockets,  but 
finding  none,  a gentleman  standing  near,  who  had 
overheard  the  question,  came  forward  and  said, 
“ Here  is  one,  Mr.  President.”  Several  persons 
had  in  the  mean  time  gathered  around.  Taking 
the  card  and  a pencil,  Mr.  Lincoln  sat  down  upon 
the  low  stone  coping,  presenting  almost  the  appear- 
ance of  sitting  upon  the  pavement  itself,  and  wrote 
an  order  upon  the  card  to  the  proper  official  to 
“ examine  this  man’s  case.”  While  writing  this, 
I observed  several  persons  passing  down  the  prom- 
enade smiling,  at  what  I presume  they- thought  the 
undignified  appearance  of  the  head  of  the  nation, 
who,  however,  seemed  utterly  unconscious,  either 
of  any  impropriety  in  the  action,  or  of  attracting 
any  attention.  To  me  it  was  not  only  another 
picture  of  the  native  goodness  of  the  man,  but  of 
true  nobility  of  clfaracter,  exemplified  not  so  much 
by  a disregard  of  conventionalities,  as  in  uncon- 
sciousness that  there  could  be  any  breach  of  eti- 
quette or  dignity  in  the  manner  of  an  honest  attempt 
to  serve  or  secure  justice  to  a citizen  of  the  Republic, 
however  humble  he  might  be.  Rising  to  his  feet  he 
handed  the  man  the  card,  with  a word  of  direction, 

and  then  turning  to  me  said:  “Well  C , I 

must  go  in  and  take  one  moi’e  look  at  the  picture 
before  you  leave  us.”  So  saying,  he  accompanied 
me  to  the  East  Room,  and  sitting  down  in  front 
of  it,  remained  for  some  time  in  silence.  I said  that 


SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 


3o3 

I nad  at  length  worked  out  my  idea,  as  he  ex- 
pressed it  at  our  first  interview,  and  would  now  be 
glad  to  hear  his  final  suggestions  and  criticism. 

“ There  is  little  to  find  fault  with,”  he  replied  ; 
“ the  portraiture  is  the  main  thing,  and  that  seems 
to  me  absolutely  perfect.” 

I then  called  his  attention  afresh  to  the  accesso- 
ries of  the  picture,  stating  that  these  had  been 
selected  from  the  objects  in  the  Cabinet  chamber 
with  reference  solely  to  their  bearing  upon  the  sub- 
ject. “Yes,”  said  he,  “there  are  the  war-maps, 
the  portfolios,  the  sZave-map,  and  all ; but  the  book 
in  the  corner,  leaning  against  the  chair-leg, — you 
have  changed  the  title  of  that,  I see.”  “ Yes,”  I 
replied ; “ at  the  jast  moment  I learned  that  you 
frequently  consulted,  during  the  period  you  wer» 
preparing  the  Proclamation,  Solicitor  Whiting’s 
wTork  on  the  ‘ War  Powers  of  the  President,’  and 
as  Emancipation  was  the  result  in  fact  of  a mil- 
itary necessity,  the  book  seemed  to  me  just  the 
thing  to  go  in  there  ; so  I simply  changed  the 
title,  leaving  the  old  sheepskin  cover  as  it  was.” 
“Now,”  said  he,  “Whiting’s  book  is  not  a regu- 
lar law-book.  It  is  all  very  well  that  it  should 
be  there  ; but  I would  suggest  that  as  you  have 
changed  the  title,  you  change  also  the  character  of 

the  binding.  It  now  looks  like  an  old  volume  «f 

-Ur- 

United  States  Statutes.”  I thanked  him  for  this 
criticism,  and  then  said : “ Is  there  anything  else 
that  you  would  like  changed  or  added?”  “No,” 
23 


354  SIX  MONTHS  AT  THE  WHITE  HOUSE. 

he  replied,  and  then  repeated  very  emphatically 
the  expression  he  used  when  the  design  was  first 
sketched  upon  the  canvas : “ It  is  as  good  as  it 
can  be  made.” 

I then  referred  at  some  length,  to  the  enthu- 
siasm in  which  the  picture  was  conceived  and  had 
been  executed,  concluding  with  an  expression  of 
my  profound  appi’eciation  of  the«very  unusual  op- 
portunities afforded  me  in  the  prosecution  of  the 
work,  and  his  unvarying  kindness  and  considera- 
tion through  the  many  weeks  of  our  intercourse. 

He  listened  pensively,  — almost  passively,  to  me, 
— his  eyes  fastened  upon  the  picture.  As  I fin- 
ished he  turned,  and  in  his  simple-hearted,  earnest 

way,  said : “ C , I believe  I am  about  as  glad 

Qver  the  success  of  this  work  as  you  are.”  And 
with  these  words  in  my  ear,  and  a cordial  “ good- 
bye ” grasp  of  the  hand,  President  and  painter 
separated : the  one  to  gather  into  and  around 
himself  more  and  more  the  affections  of  a mighty 
people,  till  in  the  culmination  and  attainment  of 
all  his  heart’s  desires  he  should  be  called  from 
“ glory  to  glory ; ” the  other,  in  his  humble  sphere, 
to  garner  as  a precious  legacy  to  him  and  his 
these  fragments  of  leaves  from  the  daily  life  of  one 
whose  name  and  fame  ■ — inseparably  bound  up  with 
devotion  to  freedom  and  reverence  for  law,  fra- 
grant with  the  tender  memories  and  sweet  humani- 
ties of  life — are  to  grow  brighter  and  stronger 
with  God’s  eternal  years,  as  men  learn  to  appre- 
ciate and  emulate  a true  Christian  manhood. 


INDEX. 


A.  ^ 

Adams,  J.  Q.,  211. 

Aliev,  Hon.  J.  13.,  119. 

All-noise  Story,  212. 

Amnesty  Proclamation,  98. 
Andersonville,  177. 

Apparition,  164. 

Arnold,  Hon.  I.  N.,  150,  237,  302. 
Asliley,  Hon.  Mr.,  151. 

Ashmun,  Hon.  George,  284-286. 
Assassination,  63. 

B. 

Baker,  G.  E.,  127. 

Baldwin,  Judge,  (Cal.,)  245. 
Baltimore  Convention,  162. 
Barrett,  Hon.  J.  H.,  86,  254. 
Bateman,  Newton,  192. 

Bates,  Attorney-General,  55. 
Battle,  Fair  Oaks,  139. 

Beecher,  Henrv  Ward,  135,  230. 
Bellows,  Rev.  Dr.,  81,  274. 

Bible  Presentation,  199. 

Bingham,  Hon.  John  A.,  234. 
Blair,  Hon.  M.,  21,  46.  88 
Booth,  Edwin,  49. 

Bowen,  H.  C.,  221. 

Brady,  M.  B.,  46. 

Braine,  Lieutenant,  94. 

Brooks.  Noah,  63,  165,  188,  235. 
“Bulletin,”  (San  Francisco,)  223. 
Burnside,  81. 

C. 

Cabinet  Meeting,  55. 

Cameron,  Secretary,  136-138,  253. 
Cannon,  Colonel  L.  B.,  115. 

Cass,  General,  271. 


Chase,  21,  84,  85,  86,  88-90,  180, 
218,  223;  letter  to  Stanton,  180 
Cheever,  Rev.  Dr.,  147. 

Chicago  Convention,  119. 
Christian  Commission,  161. 

Clark,  Senator,  276. 

Clay,  Henry,  71. 

Colfax,  Hon.  Schuyler,  14,  85,  87 
172,  177,  195,  285. 

Concert,  Marine  Band,  143, 168. 
Creech,  68. 

Creeds,  190. 

Crittenden,  General,  46 
Cropsey,  168. 

Curtin,  82-84. 

Cushing,  Lieutenant,  232. 

D. 

Dali,  Mrs.  C.  H.,  165. 

Defrees,  126. 

Dealing,  Bon.  H.  C.,  190,  219. 

“ Demonstrate,”  314. 

Derby,  J.  C.,  (N.Y.,)  290. 
Description  of  Picture,  27. 

Dole,  Commissioner,  282. 

Douglas,  Hon.  Stephen  A.,  194, 
237,  249,  315. 

Douglass,  Frederick,  204. 

E. 

Elliott,  (Artist,)  69. 

Emancipation,  21,  73,  74,  77  78, 
86,  196,  197,  269,  307. 
Equestrian  Statues,  71. 

Ewing,  Hon.  Thomas,  37. 

«* 

F. 

Fessenden,  Hon.  W.  P.,  182. 


356  INDEX. 


Field,  Rev.  II.  M.,  135. 

Florida  Expedition,  43. 

Ford,  Hon.  Thomas.  296. 

Forney,  Colonel,  267. 

Forrest,  Edtvin,  114. 

Frank,  Hon.  A.,  218. 

Freedmen,  196. 

Fremont,  47,  220,  221. 

G. 

Gamble,  Governor.  242. 

Garfield,  General,  240. 

Garrison,  167. 

Gilbert,  Wall  Street  Assessor,  255. 
Goldsborough,  Admiral,  240. 

Grant,  General,  56,  57,  265,  283, 
292. 

Greeley,  152. 

Greene,  W.  T.,  267. 

Gulliver,  Rev.  J.  B.,  Reminis- 
cences, 309. 

H. 

Halpine,  Colonel,  63,  278. 
Hammond,  Surgeon-General.  274, 
275. 

Hanks,  Dennis,  299. 

Harris,  Hon.  Ira,  175. 

Hay,  John,  45,  149. 

Henderson,  Rev.  Mr.,  320. 

Henry,  Dr.,  (Oregon,)  302. 
Herndon,  Hon.  Win.  H. ; analysis 
of  ilr.  Lincoln’s  charScter,  323. 
Higbv,  Hon.  William,  148 
Holland,  Dr.,  79,  191. 

Holmes,  O.  W.,  58. 

Holt,  Judge,  32,  33. 

Hooker,  General,  233. 

Hospitals,  107. 

Hubbard,  Hon.  Mr.,  (Ct.,)  253. 

I. 

“ Independent,”  New  York,  88, 
230,  287. 

“ Ingenious  Nonsense,”  158. 
Inman,  (Artist,)  69. 

Interview,  first,  with  Mr.  Lincoln, 


Jackson,  *'  Stonewal,”  234,  268. 


Johnson,  Hon.  Andrew,  102. 

Johnson,  Oliver,  77. 

Jones,  (Sculptor,)  34. 

K. 

Kelly,  Hou-  Wm.,  92,  165,  294. 

King,  Starr,  228. 

Knox,  William,  (Poet,)  60. 

L. 

Lincoln,  Hon.  G.  B.,  of  Brooklyn, 
110,  1»,  234. 

Lincoln,  Mrs.,  165.  293.  301. 

Lincoln,  President,  account  of 
Emancipation  Proclamation,  20 
76,  83.  35,  90,  269,  307  ; his  sad- 
ness, 30;  love  of  Shakspeare,  49  ^ 
memory,  52 ; appreciation  of  poe- 
try, 59  ; “ Oh,  why  should  the 
spirit  of  mortal  be  proud  V”  60; 
opinion  concerning  Assassina- 
tion, 62;“  Latin  ” quotation,  78; 
exceptionable  stories,  80  ; on 
Wall  Street  gold  speculators, 
84 ; closing  sentence,  89 ; “ prom- 
ised his  God,”  &c.,  90;  his  ma- 
tured judgment  upon  the  act  of 
Emancipation,  90  ; simplicity 
and  humility,  95;  his  first  dol- 
lar, 96;  Amnesty  Proclamation, 
interview  with  Hon.  Robert  Dale 
Owen,  98 ; account  of  capture 
of  Norfolk,  104,  210;  exhausted 
patience  illustrated,  106,  108; 
wounded  Marylander,  109;  as 
surveyor,  111;  “ new  clothes,” 
113 ; axes,  113,  289  ; never  read 
a novel,  114;  interview  with 
Rev.  Dr.  Vinton,  117 ; telegram 
to  friends  at  Chicago  Conven- 
tion, 120;  reception  of  nomi- 
nation, (I860,)  121;  temperanco 
principles,  125;  “sugar-coated,” 
126;  the  signing  of  public  doc- 
uments. 128;  speech  to  foreign 
minister,  128;  on  office-seekers, 
129,  145,  276;  borrowing  the 
army,  130;  Sunday-school  cele- 
bration, 130  ; regard  for  chil- 
dren, 132;  “the  baby  did  it,” 
133;  pardon  cases,  4),  43,  133 


INDEX. 


357 


171,  172,  173, 174, 175,  176,  250, 
296,  319;  Five  Points'  Sun- 
day - School,  133 ; at  Henry 
Ward  Beecher’s  church,  134; 
relations  until  Cabinet,  135;  Sec- 
retary Cameron’s  Report,  136; 
General  Patterson,  137 ; Sec- 
retary Cameron’s  retirement, 
138;  interview  with  P.  M.  Wet- 
more.  (X.  Y.,)  140;  sensitive- 
ness 144,  145;  “thin  skinned,” 
145;  willingness  to  receive  ad- 
vice, 146 ; " canvassed  hams,” 
14S;  indifference  to  •‘personal 
appearance,  148;  Nicolay  and 
Hay,  149;  “ Nasby  Betters,” 
151 ; relief  found  in  story-tell- 
ing, 152 ; Greeley,  152,  153 ; 
newspaper  reading,  154;  news- 
paper “gas,”  155;  newspa- 
per “reliable,”  156;  Chicago 
“ Times,”  156  ; “ ingenious  non- 
sense,” 158;  “husked out,”  158; 
letter  to  Lovejoy  Monument 
Association,  160:  Massett,  160; 
Christian  Commission,  162;  re- 
nomination, 162  : apparition, 
164;  Mrs.  Lincoln.  164,  293. 
301:  speech  to  committee  from 
Baltimore  Convention,  and  Wil- 
liam Lloyd  Garrison,  167 ; 
Mrs.  Cropsey.  168;  and  soldiers, 
169;  reprieves,  171;  a hand- 
some President,  174  ; idiotic 
boy,  176;  Andersonville  prison- 
ers, 178;  retaliation,  178;  Fes- 
senden, 182  ; McCulloch,  184; 
religious  experience,  185-188; 
rebel  ladies,  189;  Col.  Denting, 
190;  creeds,  190;  Newton  Bate- 
man, 192;  slavery,  194;  prayer, 
195 ; epitaph  suggested,  196  ; Bi- 
ble presentation,  197 ; Caroline 
Johnson,  once  a slave,  199  ; 
Sojourner  Truth,  201-203;  Fred- 
erick Douglass,  204;  memorial 
from  children,  204;  Ne\t  Year’s 
Day,  1865,  205;  ‘ walk  de 

earf  like  de  Lord,”  209; 
Rebel  Peace  Commissioners,  212 ; 
“slave  map,”  215;  Kilpatrick, 
216;  personal  description,  217, 
323  ; opinion  on  the  war, 
219;  text  applied  to  Fremont, 


220  ; reappointment  of  Fre- 
mont, 222;  California  lady’s  ac- 
count of  a visit  at  “Soldiers' 
Home,”  223;  on  “trees,”  224; 
“school  of  events,”  225;  Mc- 
Clellan, 130,  143,  227,  255; 
Peace  Convention,  229;  Henry 
Ward  Beecher,  230;  popularity 
with  the  soldiers  and  people, 
231;  portraits,  46,  231;  Lieu- 
tenant Cushing,  232;  last  in- 
augural, 234  ; his  election  to 
the  legislature  in  1834,  234; 
never  invented  a “ story,” 
235;  first  political  speech,  236; 
contest  with  Douglas.  237 ; af- 
fection for  his  step-mother.  238; 
reply  to  anti-slavery  delegation 
Trorn  New  York,  239;  reply  to 
a clergyman,  239;  concerning 
Gov.  Gamble  of  Missouri,  242; 
on  Seward’s  “poetry,"  242;  be- 
trothal of  Prince  of  Wufes, 
243;  honesty  as  a lawyer,  245; 
“ attorney  of  the  people,”  245; 
“ little  influence  with  this  ad- 
ministration,” 246;  reply'  to 
Stanton's  detractor,  246;  the 
German  lieutenant,  246 ; Gen- 
eral Grant's  “ whiskey,”  247 ; 
no  personal  vices,  247  ; ser- 
enade speeches,  248  ; his  own 
war  minister,  249;  illustration 
from  “ Euclid,”  249 ; “ pigeon- 
hearted,"  250;  “ minneboolioo,” 
251;  Hannibal’s  wars,  253  ; 
reports  of  committees,  253  ; 
Brigadier-Generals,  254,  260  ; 
twelve  hundred  thousand  reb- 
els in  the  field,  255  ; Assessor 
Gilbert,  255  ; on  canes,  256 ; 
hogshead  illustration,  256;  on 
Missouri  Compromise,  257 ; 
“ Statute  of  Limitations,”  257  ; 
Blondin  crossing  Niagara, 
257 ; reply'  to  attacks,  258 ; 
Chicago  “ Democratic  Plat- 
form," 259;  death  of  John  Mor- 
gan, 259;  case  of  Franklin  W. 
Smith,  259;  “royal”  blood, 
261;  reading  the  Bible,  262; 
thinking  of  a man  down  South 
263;  presentiment  of  death,  263; 
the  wards  of  the  nation,  264) 


858 


INDEX. 


Lincoln  and  Stanton,  265;  as 
a flat-boatman,  267 ; Louisiana 
negro,  268;  Stonewall  Jackson, 

268  ; reply  to  Kentuckians, 

269  ; letter  to  General  Wads- 
worth, 270;  extract  from  speech 
in  Congress,  271;  “browsing 
around,”  272;  the  negro  porter, 
272;  Rev.  Dr.  Bellows  and  Sur- 
geon-General Hammond,  274  ; 
the  election  of  President  the 
people’s  business,  275;  appoint- 
ment of  chaplains,  277 ; appreci- 
ation of  humor,  278  ; “ public 
opinion  baths,”  281  ; “on  the 
Lord’s  side,”  282;  going  down 
with  colors  flj'ing,  282 ; opinion 
of  General  Grant,  283 ; interview 
with  Messrs.  Colfax  and  Ash- 
man, evening  of  assassination, 
284 ; at  City-Point  hospital,  287 ; 
Lincoln  and  the  rebel  soldier, 
288;  last  interview  with  Secre- 
tary Seward,  290;  his  dream, 
292;  last  afternoon,  293 ; Lincoln 
and  Willie  Bladen,  294;  “you 
don’t  wear  hoops,"  &c.,  297  ; 
Grist  illustration,  298;  his  duel, 
302;  interview  with  Judge  Mills 
and  ex-Gov.  Randall,  (Wis.,) 
305 ; Lincoln  and  Rev.  J.  P.  Gul- 
liver, 309;  shedding  of  blood, 
the  remission  of  sins,  319;  Lin- 
coln and  the  drummer-boy,  319; 
consideration  of  the  humble 
illustrated,  321 ; “ may  you  live 
a thousand  years,  and  always 
be  the  head  of  this  great  na- 
tion,” 322;  Herndon’s  analysis 
of  character,  323  ; indifference 
to  ceremony,  326  ; final  criti- 
cism of  the  painting,  353 ; fare- 
well words,  354. 

Lincoln,  Robert,  45,  300. 

Lincoln,  “ Tad,”  44,  91,  92,  293, 
300. 

Lincoln,  “ Willie,”  44,  116. 

Lovejov,  Hon.  Owen,  14,  17,  18, 
20,  47,  57,  157. 


Lincoln’s  “ S Tories.” 

General  Scott  and  Jones  the 
sculptor,  34;  “great ’’men,  37; 


Daniel  Webster,  37,  131;  Thad. 
Stevens,  38 ; “a  little  more 
light  and  a little  less  noise,” 
49;  tax  on  “state”  banks,  53; 
Andy  Johnson  and  Colonel 
Moody,  102;  “chin  flv,”  129; 
Secretary  Cameron’s  retirement, 
138;  Wade  and  Davis’  “mani- 
festo,” 145;  “second  advent,” 
147;  “nothing  but  a noise,” 
155;  “swabbing  windows,” 
159  ; “ mistakes,”  233 ; “ picket  ” 
story,  233 ; “ plaster  of  psalm 
tunes,”  239;  “ Fox  River,”  240; 
“nudum  pactum,”  241;  har- 
monizing the  “ Democracy,” 
244  ; Mrs.  Sallie  Ward  and 
her  children,  247  ; a Western 
judge,  250 ; “ lost  my  apple  over- 
board,” 252;  rigid  government 
and  close  construction,  254  ; 
“ breakers  ” ahead,  256  ; coun- 
terfeit bill,  262;  blasting  rocks, 
262;  General  Phelps’s  emanci- 
pation proclamation,  273;  mak- 
ing “ministers,”  277;  John  Ty- 
ler, 278;  the  Irish  soldier  and 
Jacob  Thompson,  283  ; Jeff. 
Davis  and  the  coon,  284;  last 
story,  — “ how  Patagonians  eat 
oysters,”  told  to  Marshal  La- 
mon  on  evening  of  assassina- 
tion, 285. 

M. 

Marine  Band,  168. 

“Massa  Sam’s  dead,”  207 

McClellan,  130,  143,  227,  255. 

McCulloch,  Hon.  Hugh,  179, 185. 

McKaye,  Colonel,  208. 

McVeagh,  242. 

Memory,  52. 

Miller,  Hon.  S.  F.,  5,  174. 

Mills,  Judge  J.  T.,  (Wis.,)  305. 

Mix,  Captain,  261. 

Moody,  Colonel,  102. 

Morgan,  John,  259. 

Morgan,  Senator,  74. 

Murtagh,  Mr.,  ( Washington,)  321 

N. 

“ Nasby  Papers,”  151. 


INDEX. 


359 


Newspapers,  154. 

Nicolav,  149. 

Norfolk,  (capture,)  104,  240. 
Novels,  115. 


O. 

Odell,  Hon.  M.  F.,  170,  178. 

“ Oh  why  should  the  spirit  of 
mortal  be  proud?  ” (Poem,)  60. 

Owen,  Robert  Dale,  98. 

P. 

Pardon  applications,  40,  43,  132, 
171,  172,  173,  174,  175,  176,  250, 
296,  297,  318. 

Patterson,  General,  137. 

Peace  Conference  at  Hampton 
Roads,  209. 

Phelps,  General,  273. 

Pierpont,  Rev.  John,  78,  179. 

R. 

Randall,  ex-Governor,  (lYis.,)  305. 

Raymond,  95,  129. 

Red  River  disaster.  55. 

Religious  character,  185. 

“ Root,”  General,  70. 

“ Root  Hog"  Story,  211. 

S. 

Scott,  General,  34. 

Seward,  Secretary,  22,  69,  223, 
242;  on  Clay  and  Webster,  71; 
on  “Equestrian”  Statues,  71; 
on  Emancipation,  72;  on  Mr. 
Lincoln,  81;  Seward  and  Lin- 
coln, 290  ; the  last  interview, 
290  : first  knowledge  of  the 
President’s  death,  291. 

Seymour,  General,  48. 

Shakspeare,  49,  115,  150,  162. 

Shannon,  Hon.  Thomas,  147,  148. 

Sherman,  General,  233. 


Shields  and  Lincoln,  302. 
“Simmons,  Pollard,"  111. 

Sinclair,  16,  48. 

Sizer,  Nelson,  134. 

Slave  Map,  215. 

Smith,  Franklin  W.,  259. 

“ Sojourner  Truth,”  201-203. 

“ Soldiers’  Home,”  223. 
“Spectator,”  (London,)  31. 
Stanton,  Elizabeth  Cady,  101. 
Stanton,  Secretary,  33,  54,  264, 
300. 

Stephens,  Alexander,  211,  215. 

, Stephens,  Mrs.  Ann  S.,  131. 
Stevens,  Hon.  Thaddeus,  38,  173. 
Stone,  Dr.,  81. 

Swayne,  (Sculptor,)  59. 

T. 

Taylor,  B.  F.,  154. 

Thompson,  George,  75. 

Thompson,  Rev.  J.  P.,  143,  186 

259. 

Tilton,  89, 167,  196. 


Y. 


Van  Alen,  173. 

Vinton,  Rev.  Francis,  117. 

W. 

Wade  and  Davis,  145. 
Wadsworth,  General,  270. 
Washington,  raid  on,  301. 
Webster,  37,  71,  130. 
AVelles,  Secretary,  232. 
Wetmore,  P.  M.,  140. 
Wilderness  battles,  30. 
AVilkeson,  101. 

AVillets,  Rev.,  187. 

Willis,  N.  P.,  115. 

Y. 

Yates,  Governor,  267. 


THE  END. 


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